Officials from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine confirmed that the Government will cover animal transportation costs if Regional Vet Labs close, according to the ICSA.

Members of the Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers’ Association met with the Department officials yesterday, following a protest outside the Regional Veterinary Laboratory in Athlone, Co. Westmeath.

Dan Lynam, who is the ICSA Chairman in Co. Westmeath, attended the meeting. Department officials confirmed that the Government would cover the transportation costs of animals if Regional Vet Labs close, he said.

If labs were to close, they would become depots where farmers could drop off their animals. A lorry would then transport them to the nearest lab.

“There would be a serious biosecurity risk if this were to happen, as well as cross contamination concerns between animals,” he said.

Lynam argued that the transport of dead animals across the country doesn’t make sense on any level.

He also raised concerns about the  implications of transporting infectious carcasses across the country if an outbreak of Foot and Mouth disease, or any other infectious disease, occurs.

This would surely be a biosecurity risk. The movement of dead animals should be kept to an absolute minimum.

“It would facilitate the spread of disease more than anything else. One has to remember that the beef and sheep trade is worth several billion to the economy and we have to protect that,” he said.

Closure of Regional Vet Labs a ‘Crazy Idea’

The closure of any of the remaining Regional Veterinary Laboratories has been deemed as a crazy idea by Lynam.

The ICSA believes the focus should be on enhancing services for farmers, not removing them, he said.

At the moment all of the labs are at full capacity. If the Department were to close a lab, they would have to spend money on the remaining ones in order to meet demand.

During the meeting the Department officials outlined a number of proposals to the ICSA delegation, none of which would save the taxpayer money, Lynam added.

“The busiest day at the lab in Athlone last year saw 52 animals dropped off, if they had to be transported to another lab it would be a huge operation.

“Officials also told us that a final decision on the proposed closure of any of the labs won’t be made in the near future,” he said.