123 Mr. Lawlor asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide a progress report on the proposals to relocate the State laboratories to a site at Backweston Farm outside Lucan, County Dublin; if there has been an upward revision of the estimated costs; and if there is an indicative date for construction work on the site. [11019/01]

The site of the proposed new laboratories is located in County Kildare and notification of Kildare County Council's decision to grant planning permission, for the development, was received on 28 March 2001. The estimated cost of the project remains at £157 million which includes site works, construction costs, VAT, design team fees, inflation, etc. It is expected that contractors will start on site, in August-September 2001 and finish in mid-2003.