Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 327: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the extent to which the full scale of intended or expected laboratory facilities at Backweston, Celbridge, County Kildare has been achieved to date; if this now means that all laboratory testing previously referred overseas can take place within this jurisdiction; the exceptions to this, if any; the degree to which the facilities here are fully staffed in accordance with the normal staffing requirements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4200/10]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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The vast majority of the buildings of my Department's Laboratories, at Backweston are completely operational and functioning as intended. Amelioration works on some areas of the laboratories are required prior to they coming on stream. These are expected to be completed during 2010.

As indicated in responses to Parliamentary Questions, the Irish multi-annual national control plan (MANCP) details the official controls of foodstuffs. My Department, in conjunction with, the Department of Health and Children and the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) have the primary responsibility for planning and implementing this programme. The range of tests required to implement the MANCP are extensive, diverse and highly specialised and at this point some of the analytical needs are still being met by referrals to overseas laboratories. While some tests in the animal and plant health areas are also being referred to laboratories abroad it is envisaged that the need for such referrals will diminish in the future, as the Laboratories continue to introduce new analytical methods and technologies with the objective of meeting a higher proportion of our needs and thus minimising our dependency on external laboratories.

Demands on laboratory resources are however, expected to further increase due to the introduction of new EU legislation and its associated analytical requirements and staff resources will continue to be reviewed in this context.