Mr. Declan Byrne:

If farmers knew there was to be money available or an incentive to change, it would possibly be a solution. With very few exceptions, if farmers put sheep to the hills at all, it is for just six weeks or a month after weaning. The dry ewes are brought to the hill and are soon brought down. Basically, the sheep farming system is a lowland sheep farming system. What we need to do in the longer term is return to proper hill farming, but this involves a big sea change for many farmers.