Eamon Scanlon (Sligo-Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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11. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will ensure that the Sligo regional veterinary laboratory will be kept open; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12352/17]

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Ceann Comhairle)
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Deputy Eamon Scanlon has assigned his question to Deputy Charlie McConalogue.

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine laboratories are an integral part of the Department, providing critical scientific evidence and expertise in animal health, food safety and plant sciences, which allows the Department to function effectively as a regulator, to deal with new and emerging risks and to rapidly respond to disease outbreaks and food safety incidents. The laboratories also provide valued services and advisory support to the farming community, the food industry and wider society.

The ambitious targets of the agrifood industry for growth and development over the next decade, as set out in Food Wise 2025, must be underpinned by robust systems which protect and enhance our reputation as a producer of safe and wholesome food. One of the ways in which we must respond to this challenge is by developing a long-term strategy for the laboratories, building on existing capability and expertise in animal health, food safety and plant sciences, and ensuring we achieve both operational and scientific excellence.

This was the primary reason for tasking a working group, led by Professor Alan Reilly, to undertake a comprehensive review of the Department’s laboratories. This review has considered both the central laboratory complex at Backweston and the eight regional laboratories located at Athlone, Cork, Kilkenny, Limerick and Sligo.  The group has presented a report to the Department which makes recommendations on the following: oversight and co-ordination of the laboratories activities; reorganisation of divisions and support functions within the central laboratory complex; options for the future development of the regional laboratories with a view to improving disease investigative and surveillance capability, but with the overriding imperative of maintaining and enhancing services to farmers; and human resources management within the laboratories with a focus on grading structures, career development opportunities and workforce planning.

My Department is currently consulting with all relevant stakeholders. A decision on any of these recommendations will await the outcome of this consultative process. In the case of the regional veterinary laboratories, any decision will also be informed by a cost-benefit analysis of the various options that have been proposed for their future development.

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Minister for his response. It is absolutely correct that we should look at all times at how a service is provided. Particularly regarding veterinary and scientific services to the agricultural community, we must ensure that those involved have the resources, facilities and back-up necessary to be able to perform that function to the highest possible standard. The concern with regard to the ongoing review has been particularly related to the regional veterinary laboratory network. There are proposals and options in the working group report put forward which involve a closure of some of those regional veterinary laboratories. It involves the closure of Sligo, for example, which is referred to in my question, and there is also grave concern for Limerick and Kilkenny.

The Minister will know, from feedback he received from them, how important this regional veterinary laboratory network is to farmers in the regions. For example, with regard to the closure of Sligo, for farmers in the part of the world I come from in north Donegal, the next nearest laboratory would be Athlone. It is simply unacceptable that farmers in times of distress who require autopsy services for animals would have to avail of a service that is that far away. The regional veterinary network is absolutely essential. In his final comments, the Minister - apart from noting the resources and the scientific facilities and equipment that will be available - indicated that the regional veterinary laboratory will be looked at in the context of a cost-benefit analysis. There is never any doubt that one office in a central location with all of the staff in it may, from a cost-benefit point of view, be a cheaper way of providing services. However, the key point is that the regional veterinary laboratory network is critical. The service is very important. Therefore, it is absolutely crucial that the Minister, the Department and the review group keep that in mind. Certainly, from my party's perspective, it is crucial that that network is protected and given with the resources and facilities necessary to provide the service it is expected to provide.

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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I hear loud and clear the geographical message. I appreciate the importance of a geographical spread. The one assurance I have given is that there will be no diminution of service to the farming community in respect of this. It preceded my appointment, but it was right and proper that Professor O'Reilly was given carte blancheto look at the current service, critique it and make a series of recommendations. He is an internationally-renowned scientist. He has done some sterling service both in this country and abroad. I felt it was appropriate thereafter to put that out into consultation with the staff. They are the people whose role is critical to underpinning the industry and the manner in which we are able to travel the globe and stand over the product that we have. I salute all of the staff that are employed across the regional laboratories and at Backweston. That consultation process is ongoing. In a way, it is unfortunate that there has been an element of scaremongering by farm organisations and others. No decisions whatsoever have been made about the future structures. I made that point to staff to whom I have spoken. It is right and proper that they engage and put their best foot forward in respect of the service that is there now. It is a critical service for the industry and I acknowledge what it has done, but I equally think that it was only right and proper that Professor O'Reilly would have been given the broadest possible scope to critique the service and make recommendations for the future. Those recommendations are the subject of public consultation.

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I think it is a bit simplistic and dismissive of the Minister to talk about the farming community scaremongering or about people being concerned about this. Options have been put forward. They were pulled out of thin air. One of the options for consideration would involve the closure of some of these veterinary laboratories. Another is that they would all be amalgamated into one centre. I do not think it is unfair to expect that the farmers would become concerned about that being on the table for consideration and would make their views known on that basis. It is rightl that they should do so. People always become concerned when they hear commentary regarding cost-benefit analysis. Too often, what that means is that all of the emphasis is on the cost and not enough is on the benefit. What is key is that there is recognition in this review of the importance and benefit of the regional veterinary laboratories to the regions and to farmers who live there and that they remain part of the overall service. That service is provided to a great standard across all offices and there must be investment in order to ensure that this remains the case.

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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I think it is unfortunate to say that proposals were pulled out of thin air. To make that statement in respect of a report done by Professor O'Reilly, who has international eminence in this area, is unfortunate.

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I said that they were not pulled out of thin air.

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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That is exactly what the Deputy said. He said that proposals were pulled out of thin air.

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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They were not pulled out of thin air. I said that they actually came from a report.

John Lahart (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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The Minister to respond.

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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No decisions have been made and there is no Department document that talks about closing anything. There is a report that was compiled by an eminent person who has internationally-recognised expertise in this area. That report is now the subject of consultation with the staff. That is where matters stand. There is no recommendation to close any regional laboratory service. It is wrong to create that impression. The people who work in those laboratories have been done a disservice by the heightening of fears regarding closure. We would be rightly criticised if we did not occasionally critique ourselves against what is best practice in order to underpin the offering that the industry makes globally in its safety, provenance, etc. That is what these regional labs do. There is a process under way and staff should engage in that.

John Lahart (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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I am going to have to stop the Minister there. We have overrun the time on this question.