Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 244: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the extent to which the anticipated laboratory testing facilities at Backweston, Celbridge, County Kildare are in place in accordance with previous indications to the House; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40860/10]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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The DAFF Laboratory facilities at Backweston are capable of dealing with DAFF's analytical requirements to a considerable degree but do not fully meet evolving requirements. While it is possible to carry out a large range of tests at DAFF Laboratories at Backweston, a small number of samples are sent abroad annually for tests which are not carried out at DAFF laboratories e.g. typing of bacteria, tests for exotic viruses, confirmatory testing, toxin or residue analysis.

In the animal health area, while amelioration works on some areas of the laboratories are required prior to they coming on stream (likely to be in 2011/2012), the vast majority of the Laboratories are completely operational and functioning as intended. Currently, some tests in the animal health area eg for testing for Foot and Mouth Disease Virus etc are referred to laboratories abroad. It is envisaged that such referrals will reduce in the future, as DAFF 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 increase further due to the introduction of new EU legislation and its associated testing requirements and also the implications of schemes to reduce staff numbers.