This is the fourth protest against proposed plans to close several of the Department of Agriculture’s RVLs, following similar demonstrations in Kilkenny and Limerick earlier this year and last week’s show of force by all farm organisations in Sligo.

Once again, protesters have timed their action to coincide with a visit by the Department’s review team, which has been touring RVLs around the country to meet staff ahead of decisions on the future of the service.

As revealed by the Irish Farmers Journal in January, one of the scenarios under the review would see Athlone cover the entire north and west following the closure of Sligo. Another proposal is to close five of the six RVLs, including Athlone, and centralise services in Backweston, Co Dublin.

The only approach that can provide the necessary support to farmers

Instead of cutting RVL services, IFA animal health chair Bert Stewart said the existing labs could be maintained and their services enhanced for an investment of €6.4m over eight years.

Stewart added that farmers from Longford, Westmeath, Offaly and Roscommon were taking part in the Athlone protest. Roscommon IFA chair John Hanley said: “The lab and staff in Athlone, with their local knowledge, close interaction with farmers and vets and key industry stakeholders, and ease of access for samples, is the only approach that can provide the necessary support to farmers.”

The ICSA is also taking part in Wednesday’s protest and its Westmeath chair Dan Lynam said the drystock organisation would keep up the pressure until all labs were confirmed to have been retained.

“Over recent years, farmers have been endeavouring to improve their stock, particularly through schemes such as BDGP and Knowledge Transfer and now the new sheep welfare scheme. So, when an on-farm death occurs, they need to be able to receive a prompt diagnosis,” Lynam said.

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