Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 178: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if there is sufficient personnel and equipment in the Garda forensic laboratory for same to function to the highest capacity; if there are delays occurring; if so, the provision he or his Department will make to rectify same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22219/06]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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I assume the Deputy is referring to the Forensic Science Laboratory which, although located in the Garda Headquarters complex at Phoenix Park, is in fact a civilian organisation coming under the aegis of my Department and not part of the Garda Síochána. The Laboratory staff both at leadership and subordinate levels are superbly well qualified and do a magnificent job in supporting crime investigation in this country.

Insofar as the resources available to the Laboratory are concerned, the position is that additional staff were sanctioned and assigned in recent years following a major review of the organisation's functions and the level of funding is kept under ongoing review so as to ensure the Laboratory has the facilities to deliver on its objectives. As the Deputy may also be aware, work is underway on the specification and design of a new building for the Laboratory and my intention is to provide a modern, state of the art facility which fully accommodates the needs of the Laboratory well into the future.

Insofar as the processing of cases is concerned, the position is that cases are categorised upon receipt in the Laboratory and prioritised according to whether an examination could lead to any information of an investigational or evidential value. A service level agreement is in place between the Laboratory and the Gardaí, setting out the turnaround times according to case type and providing for high priority cases to be examined immediately upon receipt. This agreement is supported by ongoing interaction between the Laboratory and the Garda authorities with a view to ensuring that the needs of crime detection and prosecution are met at all times.