Lynn Ruane (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I am somewhat confused about why the scheme is being called a pilot scheme. I have worked in research for years. We have always carried out pilot schemes to research how well an idea works. However, there is nothing for us to compare this with. There is no pre-test or post-test analysis. The Minister is going straight into the post-test plan. A baseline study should be set out to allow those involved to compare whether any intervention has had an effect on wildlife. Cutting and then carrying out a study or looking at how it impacts on the environment will skew the results because there is absolutely nothing against which to compare them.

In the main I am completely confused about why we have this pilot. Is the purpose to carry out research? If we have absolutely nothing to compare it to, it makes no sense to call it a pilot programme.

Senator McDowell referred to the pilot operating across the Twenty-six Counties. Pilot schemes undertaken for the purposes of research are always carried out in isolation to allow researchers compare the data with other places. Researchers carry out a pilot somewhere to see how it works and to find out the impact it has, while monitoring another county to compare the situation. Why is this pilot being implemented throughout the country? Why not carry out research first to produce comparable data with a proper pilot scheme?