Veterinary laboratory closures
Deputy Aylward and Deputy McLoughlin warned that veterinary laboratories in Kilkenny and Sligo could be threatened with closure, undermining regional agricultural services. The Taoiseach said he could not answer directly and would ask the Agriculture Minister to contact the Deputies with information.
Page 108 of the programme for Government states that the "next generation of farmers must be supported, to generate farm income, while positioning Ireland as the highest quality food producing nation in the world". There is huge concern in Kilkenny and elsewhere that the six remaining veterinary laboratories may be under threat of closure by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. This is a question that I have been asking the Minister for more than 12 months. We have a laboratory in Kilkenny that serves the whole of the south east down as far as Waterford, taking in Wexford, Carlow, Kilkenny, Tipperary, Laois and south Kildare. We have been awaiting a report on the matter for over 12 months. There is a shadow hanging over the laboratory and the people working in it. These laboratories provide an essential service for the farmers of this country and must be retained. Why is the Minister dragging his feet on this? Why is he not publishing the report and putting the matter to bed for once and for all? It is an essential service that must be retained in Kilkenny to serve the area to which I referred.
Comment on this
I support the points made by the previous speaker. I am concerned about the veterinary laboratory in Sligo. It is the only such facility in the north west and the only laboratory north of the line from Dublin to Galway. It is vitally important that we secure that facility and I would welcome clarification in that regard.
