Written answers
Tuesday, 23 November 2004
Department of Finance
State Laboratory
10:00 pm
Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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Question 92: To ask the Minister for Finance the position with regard to the transfer of the State Laboratory from its present location at Abbotstown to its new location at Backweston; the reason for the delay in completing the transfer; if all staff have agreed to the proposed relocation; the estimated final cost of the transfer; the steps being taken at the new location to ensure that delays in the completion of tests are ended, especially in view of serious concerns expressed by coroners at the delays in inquests; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29866/04]
Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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I am informed by the State chemist that the new laboratory in Backweston will be ready for occupation by the end of November, so no transfer could take place earlier. The project team will have the new location and equipment ready for each of the nine sections of the laboratory, which will move in turn over a period of two to three months. Disruption to testing and other laboratory procedures will be kept to a minimum by moving each section over a different weekend. Particular care will be taken in this regard in the case of the toxicology section which handles reports for the coroners. All of the staff of the laboratory are co-operating fully in the preparations for the relocation, although the staff unions have not yet completed the conciliation and arbitration process. Consequently, it is unlikely that the move will commence until December.
The overall final cost of the facility at Backweston is estimated to be â¬87.5 million, including â¬9 million provided in 2004 for equipment.
I am conscious of the importance of the service provided to the coroners by the State Laboratory and the impact it inevitably has on relatives of people whose deaths are the subject of inquests at a time of great distress. I know the management of the laboratory share that sensitivity and constantly monitor the service by reviewing available resources, outsourcing possibilities and the complexity of analyses.
Additional resources have been allocated to the toxicology section and there has been a substantial increase in the number of analyses completed. However, there is still a backlog of cases, due to an increase of 50% in the past two years in the number of cases referred, and a general increase in the complexity of the analyses required.
A range of measures are being taken at present to reduce the turnaround time of samples sent to the laboratory and processed by its toxicology section. Additional priority is to be given to the coroners cases over other work of the section.
Laboratory management is also reviewing the procedures and processes in the toxicology area with a view to automating as much as possible.
I am told by the management of the laboratory that the completion of the relocation to Backweston will enable the enhancement of the quality of service provided to all its clients, including the Coroner Service.
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