In 2015,  the Blackstairs Farming Group, inspired by the opportunity set out in the  Irish  Rural Development Plan (RDP) for 2014-20, took the lead and looked for help in designing a results-based agro-environment payment scheme (RBAPS) tailored    to their local area. They secured financial support from the Heritage Council and Carlow and Wexford County Councils to pay for background surveys – work that was awarded to Mary Tubridy and Associates – and help   in kind from the European Forum on Nature  Conservation and Pastoralism (itself in receipt of European Commission and Heritage Council funding).