asked the Minister for Agriculture when the new regional agricultural laboratory will be opened in Limerick; and if he will give details of the work which will be carried on there and the probable number of employees.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Limerick Regional Agricultural Laboratory.
142.
Two laboratories— one to deal with veterinary problems and the other with problems relating to quality control of dairy products— are to be erected in the vicinity of Limerick.
Negotiations are in progress for the acquisition of suitable sites and it is hoped that the buildings will be complete next year. The veterinary laboratory will provide an advisory and diagnostic service to veterinary practitioners and agricultural advisory officers within a radius of 50 miles from Limerick. The dairy laboratory will provide additional facilities for testing milk and milk products for official control purposes and will also undertake testing at the request of individual creameries and manufacturers on a fee basis. The probable number of employees at the laboratories will be about 15.