Arrangements are in hand for the filling of the two vacancies that have arisen in the Athlone laboratory. My Department is working closely with the Office of Public Works to ensure outstanding works are dealt with so that the laboratory can again provide a full range of services in the shortest possible time. Athlone is one of a number of regional veterinary laboratories; the others are in Sligo, Kilkenny, Limerick, Cork and in the Central Veterinary Research Laboratory at Abbotstown – Fingal County Council – and provide a service to farmers throughout the country.
The services provided by the laboratories include examination of specimens, for example, blood samples, milk samples, faeces, etc., received by post using the appropriate discipline of biochemistry, microbiology, etc., and postmortem examination of carcasses of farm animals for cause of death, and badgers for evidence of TB. The laboratory at Athlone continues to provide all services except the post-mortem services.
The Athlone laboratory was completely rebuilt in the past few years at a cost of £1.3 million and opened for operation last year. However, on opening a number of difficulties became apparent and the efforts of my Department and the Office of Public Works have since been directed towards overcoming these difficulties and having a detailed snag-list dealt with so that the laboratory can be again made fully functional. As regards staffing levels, two vacancies exist in the regional laboratory in Athlone, for a serological assistant and a laboratory attendant. It is proposed that the serological assistant vacancy will shortly be filled by way of voluntary transfer of a member of staff currently located at another of the Department's laboratories.
The vacancy for laboratory attendant has arisen due to the continued absence of a laboratory attendant on sick leave since last August. As it may be some time before this officer can return to work, it is proposed to recruit a laboratory attendant as quickly as possible and accordingly arrangements have been made to advertise this vacancy.