Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 5 May 1999

Vol. 504 No. 2

Written Answers. - Departmental Staff.

David Stanton

Question:

178 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the research facilities under the administration of his Department; the location and number of staff employed; the nature of work undertaken; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11782/99]

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mr. Walsh):

The research carried out by the veterinary laboratory services of my Department on diseases of livestock or domestic animals is concentrated mainly on scheduled and/or notifiable diseases under national and EU legislation. Research is also carried out on parasitic diseases of economic importance in domestic animals. Most of the research is carried out at the central veterinary research laboratory, Abbotstown, which currently employs 114. There are also five regional veterinary laboratories located at Athlone, Cork, Kilkenny, Limerick and Sligo. A total of 62 staff are employed at these regional veterinary laboratories and a percentage of their work would be in the research area.

The Department also operates testing facilities, which while not pure research, come under the general heading of research and development. Crop variety testing is carried out at Backweston, the Cereal Station, Ballinacurra, various field trials on private farms with the owner's co-operation and at the agricultural colleges at Kildalton, Ballyhaise and Athenry. Bull performance testing is carried out at Tully, County Kildare and on farms of pedigree breeders participating in recording schemes. Maintenance of potato varieties, especially with regard to freedom from virus diseases, using meristem culture, is undertaken at the potato farm, Raphoe. Seed testing is carried out at the seed testing station, Abbotstown. A total of 64 staff are employed on testing in these locations, some of whom would also have responsibility for areas other than testing.