I propose to take Questions Nos. 57 and 69 together.
I am informed by the State chemist that it is anticipated that the relocation will take place in stages between November and January next year. The project team will have the new location and equipment ready for each of the nine sections of the laboratory, which will then move in turn, keeping disruption of testing and other laboratory procedures to a minimum. Particular care will be taken in this regard in the case of the toxicology section which handles reports for the coroners.
The overall final cost of the facility at Backweston is estimated to be €87.5 million including €9 million provided in 2004 for equipment.
I am conscious of the importance of the service provided to the coroners by the State Laboratory and the impact it inevitably has on relatives of people whose deaths are the subject of inquests at a time of great distress. I know that the management of the laboratory shares that sensitivity and constantly monitors the service by reviewing available resources, outsourcing possibilities and the complexity of analyses.
Additional resources have been allocated to the toxicology section and there has been a substantial increase in the number of analyses completed. However, there is still a backlog of cases, due to an increase of 50% in the past two years in the number of cases referred and a general increase in the complexity of the analyses required.
A range of measures are being taken at present to reduce the turnaround time of samples sent to the laboratory and processed by its toxicology section. Additional priority is to be given to the coroners' cases over other work of the section. Laboratory management is also reviewing the procedures and processes in the toxicology area with a view to automating as much as possible.
I am told by the management of the laboratory that the completion of the relocation to Backweston will enable the enhancement of the quality of service provided to all its clients, including the coroners' service.
