Written answers

Thursday, 2 February 2017

Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Laboratory Facilities

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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313. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the degree to which he remains satisfied regarding the adequacy of laboratory services to meet the needs of all sectors including beef, equine, swine and poultry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5299/17]

Photo of Michael CreedMichael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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The facilities at the central laboratory complex in Backweston and at regional laboratories are capable of meeting the vast majority of my Department’s analytical and diagnostic requirements.  While DAFM Laboratories have the capability to carry out most of the tests in these areas, for cost efficient reasons, some low volume, highly specialised reference test methods that are periodically required are still outsourced to specialist centres. Examples of the type of tests still outsourced are the phage typing of bacteria and some confirmatory tests for toxins and chemical contaminants.

Amelioration works in one area, the category 4 containment laboratories, are in progress with a view to bringing that laboratory into operation. The building works are expected to be completed by May 2017 and, once commissioned for use, this containment laboratory will provide my Department with the additional containment facilities necessary to undertake testing for the presence of exotic animal diseases that may be introduced into Ireland.

Looking to the future, my Department commissioned a Working Group led by Prof. Alan Reilly to undertake a comprehensive review of its Laboratory Services in order to develop a long-term strategy for the Laboratories and to build on the existing capability and expertise of the Service. The group considered both the Central Laboratory Complex at Backweston and the Regional Laboratories located in Athlone, Cork, Kilkenny, Limerick and Sligo. The Group has presented a report to the Department, which makes recommendations on:

1. Oversight and co-ordination of the laboratories activities;

2. Re-organisation of Divisions and support functions within the Central Laboratory complex;

3. Options for the future development of the Regional Laboratories – with a view to improving disease investigative and surveillance capability but with the over-riding imperative of maintaining and enhancing services to farmers; and

4. Human resources management within the laboratories - with a focus on grading structures, career development opportunities and workforce planning.

The Department is currently consulting with its laboratory-based staff on these recommendations and will proceed to consult with other stakeholders.

A decision on any of these recommendations will await the outcome of this consultative process. In the case of the Regional Laboratories any decision will also be informed by a cost benefit analysis of the various options that have been proposed for their future development.

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