Vol. 428 No. 5
139 Mr. Molloy asked the Minister for the Marine if his attention has been drawn to the threatened closure of the UCG Shellfish Laboratory at Carna, County Galway; and the action, if any, he will take to ensure continuation of the valuable research at the Carna Laboratory.
Representations have been made to me in relation to the position at the UCG shellfish research laboratory at Carna, County Galway.
From 1988 to 1992 the Department contributed financially to some research projects into new aquaculture species at the shellfish research laboratory. I would point out that the Department has at no stage exercised direct control over the staffing resources and programmes of the laboratory. The responsibility for the research programme undertaken by the shellfish research laboratory and the employment of staff engaged in research work at the laboratory rests solely with the management of the laboratory and the college authorities at UCG.
In 1992 the Department, as an exceptional, interim measure, agreed to renew funding of some research projects at the shellfish research laboratory. Formal notification was given, however, to UCG that decisions about project funding for 1993 and future years at the shellfish research laboratory would be a matter for the Marine Institute.
The board of the institute considered the question soon after its establishment late last year and decided, as an exceptional measure, to continue to contribute to the costs of certain research projects at the laboratory for the first quarter of 1993, pending further consideration in the context of priority areas for 1993 and future years.
