It is estimated that the relocation of the Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Development laboratories and the State Laboratory from Abbotstown to new facilities at Backweston, Celbridge, County Kildare will cost €199.3 million, £157 million, including site works, construction costs, design team fees, VAT and inflation. This comprises €78.7 million, £62 million, for the new State Laboratory and €120.6 million, £95 million, for the new Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Development laboratories.
The Marine Institute is to be relocated to Oranmore, County Galway to a site previously occupied by Bord Iascaigh Mhara. The estimated construction cost of the new facilities in Galway is €50.4 million, £39.7 million, including inflation, fees and VAT. The increase over previously estimated cost arises from the increased spatial requirements of the Marine Institute and more detailed design information being available.
Following an agreement at departmental council, staff representatives are informed of the outcome of every meeting of the interdepartmental co-ordinating committee which is chaired by the Secretary General of the Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Development, and which is responsible for overseeing the relocation of laboratory facilities from Abbotstown. In line with Government policy, no compensation or removal expenses will be paid to civil servants volunteering to relocate to Backweston and Galway. However, non-Civil Service fixed contract staff working at the Marine Institute who do not wish to move will benefit from a severance package which is being negotiated at present. The precise costs of this package will not be known until final agreement is reached.
