State Laboratories.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 18 December 2008

Thursday, 18 December 2008

Ceisteanna (343)

Bernard J. Durkan

Ceist:

343 Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when the State laboratories at Backweston, Celbridge, County Kildare were first opened; when it is expected that the facilities there will become fully operational; the reason the full scale of laboratory facilities has not been implemented to date, while samples have to be sent abroad; the cost of these facilities and the relocation from Abbotstown; the remaining cost of the full commissioning and provision of the originally intended range of facilities at this location; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47602/08]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Deputy Brendan Smith)

The State Laboratory (Dept of Finance) moved to new Laboratory facilities in Backweston in May 2005 and the Laboratory has been fully operational since then. Additional laboratory capability to enhance the capacity of the Laboratory to respond to customer needs is continually being developed. The State Laboratory has now developed an analytical capability to carry out dioxin analysis in Animal Feedingstuffs for the Department of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries and the analysis will commence in January 2009.

The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (DAFF) Laboratories at Backweston were officially opened on 20th April 2007. The Pesticides Division of DAFF laboratories tests for PCBs but not Dioxins. Due to the need for special laboratory facilities, safety concerns etc it was decided that when the laboratories were moving to their new site at Backweston, the State Laboratory (Dept of Finance) would be developed to test for Dioxins. This would include testing samples from the environment, food, feed etc. The cost of the DAFF laboratory facilities, instrumentation etc at Backweston were mostly borne by the OPW and were in the region of €135 million.