Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 270: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the degree to which full laboratory facilities for the equine industry are available here; the degree to which samples are currently sent abroad; if it is intended or expected to provide the full range of facilities here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5305/09]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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The Veterinary Laboratory Service of the Department of Agriculture Fisheries and Food provides a broad range of pathology and microbiology based tests (in particular, those associated with the diagnosis of scheduled diseases) for equines in Ireland. Samples for testing for the scheduled diseases — dourine, glanders and equine piroplasmosis — are sent abroad by exporting agencies for testing. This procedure is considered to be more economical than setting up tests for such scheduled diseases in the DAFF laboratories. A number of private laboratories provide testing facilities for the equine industry also.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 271: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is satisfied that all traceability, animal feed testing and the testing of all elements of the food chain can be carried out with minimum delay through the laboratory facilities available here; the degree to which such samples are referred to overseas laboratories; the reason for such referrals; when he expects the full range of facilities to be available here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5306/09]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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A comprehensive array of laboratory tests are provided in the DAFF Laboratories to comply with regulatory requirements relating to testing of food and feed. Generally, turn-around times for test results comply with what has been agreed with the laboratory's customers. When it is more cost-effective (eg due to the need for sophisticated laboratory facilities), samples have been submitted to appropriate laboratories abroad for testing. Increasing the range and depth of testing carried out in the laboratory divisions is a continual aim of the laboratory service.

Tests for dioxins in feed are currently being validated at the Department of Finance's Laboratory at Backweston and should be available in the near future.