A FORENSIC investigation will continue today at the scene of the fire which destroyed part of NUI Galway's marine research centre in Carna in Connemara early on Saturday morning.
The fire, which was spotted shortly after 6am, spread quickly through the building before the smouldering ruins were made safe by two units of Clifden fire brigade and a fire unit from Galway city.
A meeting of staff in Carna and personnel from NUI Galway (NUIG) will be held this morning to assess the extent of the damage and the disruption caused to the research work.
Staff numbers on the site can vary from 15 to 20 and it was intended that the number of PhD students in Carna would increase.
Some research projects are being conducted with other agencies such as Bord Iascaigh Mhara, Údarás na Gaeltachta and companies in the marine sector.
Employment at the centre will not be affected and efforts will begin immediately to re-establish the research projects.
The centre at Carna was established in the early 1970s. The 1,500sq m steel and corrugated iron structure destroyed in the fire was built in 1990. Part of that building was being used for researching a pilot programme aimed at establishing a cod farming industry in Irish waters.
Centre director Declan Clarke said that efforts would immediately be under way to continue some of the research projects in other parts of the building.
"However, I think there is no doubt but that a new building will be needed," Mr Clarke said.