The Irish Farmers Journal understands that a review group is to recommend the closure of the Regional Veterinary Laboratories (RVLs) in Sligo, Kilkenny and Limerick. If the proposals are adopted, the number of RVLs in the country would be reduced to just three, spread across locations in Athlone, Cork and Backweston. A number of senior vets within the Department of Agriculture are understood to be sitting on the group and are confident that the closures will not impact on the level of disease surveillance within the country.
The Irish Farmers Journal understands that a review group is to recommend the closure of the Regional Veterinary Laboratories (RVLs) in Sligo, Kilkenny and Limerick. If the proposals are adopted, the number of RVLs in the country would be reduced to just three, spread across locations in Athlone, Cork and Backweston.
A number of senior vets within the Department of Agriculture are understood to be sitting on the group and are confident that the closures will not impact on the level of disease surveillance within the country.
The Irish Farmers Journal understands that the terms of reference the group was operating under did not include cost-saving measures.
The news will certainly come as a shock to farmers relying on the three facilities to carry out post-mortems and general testing.
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