Andrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am not aware of a final recommendation being made. The concerns raised by the Deputy, Deputies Scanlon and McLoughlin and others are well understood by the Department and by me, as a farmer who has used the laboratory services. It sometimes takes me longer than an hour and a half to get to Backweston if I hit the traffic in the wrong way, although that is neither here nor there. I can understand the concern.

The proposed cost is approximately €1 million per laboratory per year, with the exception of Backweston, which is totally different. It is a fact that three options were presented that are now part of the consultative process. The first involves the current footprint, of six centres, comprising the five RVLs and Backweston. The second involves three centres of excellence, each about twice the size of the existing RVLs, with a sector-specific focus. One would be focused on beef cattle and sheep, one would be focused on pigs and poultry and one would be for dairy. The other option put forward was a single centre similar to the Dutch and Belgian models. The Netherlands and Belgium are smaller geographically but that is just the model that was proposed.

It is important to make the point that the Department is currently finalising - this should inform the final decision - its submission to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform on the mid-term review of the 2016-21 capital plan, specifying additional payment for capital funding of approximately €10 million over the period 2018 to 2023 for upgrading the physical infrastructure at the RVLs. This submission does state the laboratories are in urgent need of refurbishment but also highlights the working group's deliberations. Within that mix, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform will be asked to provide more funding for the upgrading of laboratories. Also sought will be the value analysis, which is what the working group has done.

There is a consultative process. There is no decision made. There will not be until the consultative process, which includes the staff, is complete. I appreciate the geographic importance of certain laboratories within the system.

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