Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)
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356. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his view on the reason the genetic testing for the beef genomics scheme is so expensive; his plans to reduce this cost; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34086/15]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The cost of the genotyping has been determined following a public tendering process undertaken by the ICBF in relation to laboratory analysis, tissue tags and the DNA chip. The new cost of the genotyping element is €22 per tag which is a 26% reduction on the 2014 cost, and a relatively small proportion of the overall payment to the farmer. By way of example, the payment to a farmer with a 20 cow herd, with 20 hectares, will be €1749.45 with genotyping for such a herd expected to cost approximately €264.