Ireland’s four leading universities have spent a total of €1,251,408.89 on live animals for the purposes of scientific research over the course of the last two budgetary years.

Since the start of 2013 Trinity College Dublin (TCD) has spent a total of €387,391.92 on lab animals, whilst NUI Galway (NUIG) and University College Dublin (UCD) have spent €285,847.97 and €216,432 respectively. As University College Cork’s (UCC) budget follows the pattern of the academic year a figure from the start of 2013 could not be obtained, but during the 2012/13 and 2013/14 financial years a total of €361737 was spent on live lab animals.

Among the animals purchased by the universities were rats, mice, pigs, rabbits, guinea pigs and frogs. Rats and mice made up the majority of all purchases, with 19,779 mice and 8,714 rats having been bought during the two year period. In total, 28,853 animals were purchased by the research facilities of the four institutions as part of research into the treatment of illnesses such as Cancer and lung, cardiovascular, and neurological diseases.

UCD and NUIG figures, obtained via Freedom of Information (FOI) requests, show that both institutions increased their spend on animals in 2014, despite the presence of a 2010 European Commission Directive calling for the reduction of the use of animals in such testing. NUI Galway, which increased its spend by approximately €26,000, purchased 35% more animals in 2014 (3172) than it had done the previous year (2338). However, despite the increased spend UCD purchased approximately 31% less animals in 2014 (1541) than in 2013 (2248).

TCD, whose spend from the start of 2013 was confirmed earlier this year by the Irish Independent, remains the largest spender in the area, followed by UCC, NUIG, and then UCD. However, researchers within each university wishing to use animals as part of their work must first prove that no alternative exists, as well as using as few animals as possible.

Mark d’Alton, Director of UCD’s Biomedical Facility, stated “All work in our units is carried out to the highest legal and ethical standards. All protocols must first undergo a rigorous examination by the University’s Animal Research Ethics Committee before they are approved.” He added that UCD is subject to regular audits by the Health Products Regulatory Authority to ensure ethical standards are being followed.

A spokesperson for NUIG highlighted similar practices were followed by the institution, stating “The majority of the research work that takes place in NUI Galway is basic, translational or applied research. Research with animals is undertaken only when the researchers clearly demonstrate that all in vitro alternatives have been exhausted as required by current legislation (S.I. 543 of 2012 and Directive 63/10 EU) and also past legislation (1876 Cruelty to Animal Act and S.I. No. 566 of 2002).”

“The focus of our research work ranges from the study of animal welfare to the study of the mechanisms of disease for its early detection, to the study of animal pain perception and its avoidance, and to therapeutic approaches to different pathologies whether those are neurological, cardiovascular, musculoskeletal or endocrine. In any case the animal model of disease is carefully chosen, appropriately justified and housed according to the highest standards specified in the above-mentioned legislation.”

However, in 2012 an Irish Examiner report claimed that over the course of a five year period just 66 inspections of the organisations involved in animal research had taken place. As a result, the average inspection rate at the time for each institution was once every four years.