asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food in view of the current speculation with regard to the future of ACOT and AFT if he will give an assurance that the good work at Moorepark, County Cork will not suffer; and if he would be prepared to consider Moorepark as the location for the proposed new food centre.

While the amalgamation of AFT and ACOT will involve some reorganisation and restructuring, which will be a matter for the new authority when it is established, I would expect that the more important features of the work at Moorepark would not suffer as a result.

The new food centre, which will combine the AFT food research work with that of IIRS, is being located at Dunsinea, County Dublin. There is already overall co-ordination between the work at Dunsinea and that of Moorepark. Any changes or development from this position will be a matter for the new authority.