Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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516. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to outline the proposed redeployment and redevelopment of laboratories under the aegis of his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41749/18]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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My Department has commissioned a cost-benefit analysis (CBA) of options that have been proposed for the future development of the Regional Veterinary Laboratories (RVLs). The team conducting the CBA includes internationally-recognised, independent experts in economic analysis and animal disease surveillance. It is currently finalising its work, after which a report and recommendations will be presented to me.

My Department completed an initial consultative process with all relevant stakeholders on the options for the RVLs during the course of last year and the consultants undertaking the CBA have also consulted with stakeholders. Any decision that is made on the RVLs will be informed by both those consultative processes and the outcome of the CBA.