Written answers

Tuesday, 26 March 2019

Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Laboratory Facilities

Photo of Bobby AylwardBobby Aylward (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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93. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of the review and cost-benefit analysis of the regional veterinary laboratory in County Kilkenny that serves the farmers of the entire south east region; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13918/19]

Photo of Michael CreedMichael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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My Department commissioned a cost-benefit analysis (CBA) of options that were proposed by a Working Group in 2016 for the future development of the Regional Veterinary Laboratories (RVLs). The team conducting the CBA included internationally-recognised, independent experts in economic analysis and animal disease surveillance. My Department has been presented with the CBA report and senior officials are currently considering the recommendations. Due consideration is also being given to feedback we received following consultation on two separate occasions with our stakeholders - following publication of the 2016 Working Group report and during the CBA process.

A proposal on how best to redevelop the RVLs over the next few years will be informed by both of those consultative processes and by the findings of the CBA. The focus of my Department is now on securing and improving the service to the sector at best value to the tax payer and on securing the necessary capital funding for investment.

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