Michael Keegan, Luggala Estate, Co Wicklow

Wicklow farmer Michael Keegan.

“There’s been a lot of work done in the uplands through the SUAS project and it would be a real pity if that was just left there now and not continued.

“This five-year scheme isn’t really, in the absence of something that follows on from it, very good. They need to be thinking more 20–30-year schemes, with flexibilities.

“There were various different actions across the estate which were beneficial to the whole upland ecology. The good thing about it is it has created a lot of awareness.”

Brian Jones, Glassavullaun Commonage, Co Dublin

Dublin sheep farmer Brian Jones.

“We’ve learned a lot over the course of the scheme. You just have this idea from what you would’ve heard from your father, your grandfathers. You think we’ll carry on that way but having an ecologist up there, getting their opinion, it was a different aspect of it.

“The [ACRES] co-operation project team that are looking after our commonage, we haven’t heard from them. We’ve signed up for it but we don’t know what to expect.

“We possibly could have to drop what we’ve been doing. We wouldn’t be able to continue without the support of the payment.”

Denis Halpin, Granamore Commonage, Co Wicklow

(L-R) Wicklow farmer Denis Halpin and Wicklow IFA chair Tom Byrne.

“It’d be terrible if there wasn’t a continuation from the SUAS project. There has been great work done with the biodiversity and the water pollution, planting trees. It’s very important that we keep that momentum going.

“We’ve worked great with [the ecologists]. We’d have a joke and laugh over things but we’d agree as a rule there’s some things they wouldn’t like us to do and there’s some things we wouldn’t like. All and all, they’re very agreeable.”

Tom Byrne, Wicklow IFA chair

“They talked to farmers, not at farmers. Maybe and hopefully, that will be a lesson learned. Most of all, this project has taught us that we must involve farmers in designing and implementing schemes and very importantly, to actually fund it. A lot of work done, but a tremendous amount of work to do.”

NPWS ranger Anne Fitzpatrick

“SUAS has given us a mechanism to speak [with farmers] and for us not to be seen as the ogres. It’s not a them and us situation. It’s allowed a process where we can engage and that’s the most positive thing from our perspective. Hopefully we can continue that going forward.”

John Muldowney, Department of Agriculture

“One of the key things that we’ve learned from it is, it has created that safe space for farmers and ecologists to talk and understand what you’re trying to achieve.”