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 is estimated at £157 million, including site works, construction costs, design team fees, VAT and inflation. A comprehensive estimate of the cost of moving the Marine Institute laboratories from Abbotstown to Galway must await the acquisition of a site and the completion of a detailed brief of require ments, but the estimated construction cost of the new laboratories in Galway is £31 million, including inflation, fees and VAT. 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 relocating 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 being negotiated. The precise costs of this package will not be known until final agreement is reached.