Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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93. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the details of each State infrastructure project that is in development or is due for completion in 2019 which it is in excess of the budget assigned to the project for its current stage to date. [39522/19]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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I wish to advise the Deputy that a High Containment Laboratory has been developed at the Backweston Laboratory Campus to provide my Department with the capacity that it requires to deal with a potential outbreak of exotic viral diseases, and to fulfil my Department’s regulatory requirements for diagnostic testing of high-consequence viruses. Exotic viral diseases such as foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), avian influenza and the swine fevers are an ever-present risk to the Irish agri-food industry, with serious consequences for animal welfare and the export trade. Rapid and reliable laboratory confirmation of suspect cases is an essential prerequisite to the full deployment of the emergency disease control measures that are required in an outbreak situation.

The budget for the High Containment Laboratory project was €5.521m, comprising tendered building works of €4.971m, consultancy fees of €412,000 and equipment at €138,000, to be paid over a number of years. This process was managed by the Office of Public Works on behalf of my Department. Some unforeseen engineering difficulties and associated delays resulted in an increase in the project cost and the timeline. The associated additional costs for the project totals €1.5m, bringing the overall project cost to €7m.