Fiona O'Loughlin (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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33. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence his plans to develop lands in the area of the Defence Forces training centre on the Curragh to enhance relationships with the local communities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39823/16]

Fiona O'Loughlin (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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The fact that the Curragh is home to the Irish Defence Forces is a matter of great pride for the people of Kildare. We appreciate the great history attached to it, particularly this year when all the personnel received commemorative medals. However, the Defence Forces training centre is not a military base in isolation; it is home to a community that was once full of thriving businesses, schools and community groups. Some of the residential areas are currently blighted by the issue of overholders, who in many cases remain in legal limbo.

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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I acknowledge the Deputy's concerns in this area. As she is aware, the Curragh forum was established to enable key stakeholders of the Curragh plains to meet and contribute to the ongoing management, protection and future development of the plains. Membership of the forum, which is chaired by the Department of Defence, includes representatives from the Defence Forces, An Garda Síochána, the Curragh Racecourse, Curragh racehorse trainers and Kildare County Council. The forum also considers inputs from other representative groups of stakeholders and interested parties, as required.

To date, there have been three meetings of the forum, the most recent of which was held on 27 October. Issues discussed have included illegal encampments, illegal parking, dumping, overgrazing and the ongoing management and maintenance of the Curragh plains. At the most recent meeting, a number of actions were agreed by the members of the forum to assist in addressing these issues. They include the updating of by-laws, where necessary, for the protection of the Curragh; putting formal processes in place for the reporting and processing of breaches of the by-laws and civil law on the Curragh, to include prosecutions etc. where appropriate; a memorandum of understanding to be agreed for actions between the responsible parties, including the Defence Forces organisation, the Garda and the local authority; possible development of facilities on the Curragh plains for use by the public; and development of educational programmes to ensure users of the Curragh are aware of its uniqueness and the practices necessary to protect it.

I am well aware of the many issues that need to be addressed in the context of the day-to-day management and use of the Curragh plains and consequently I am supportive and appreciative of the work being undertaken by the forum. I am confident that in working together, the members of the forum will provide the resolve and expertise to assist greatly in the identification and implementation of solutions to the problems that need to be addressed.

Fiona O'Loughlin (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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With the greatest of respect to the Minister of State and the forum, there are many more areas that the forum needs to consider. I acknowledge that there are really wonderful community groups within the camp and surrounding areas. The personnel of the Defence Forces engage with them, particularly in regard to the Curragh PRIDE resource centre. I was delighted to have some of the ladies involved here as my guests recently.

So much more could be done under the remit of the Department. There are approximately 1,500 personnel stationed within the camp at any given time. There are many others also. There are two primary schools, which are DEIS schools. Both are under the dual patronage of the Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin and the Minister for Defence, which the Minister of State will acknowledge is quite unusual and demonstrates his responsibility. The secondary school is also a DEIS school and is under the auspices of the ETB. It is run by the board of management. Its location causes a problem, however. It is in the centre of the Curragh Camp. There is an excellent new principal, Ms Nessa Lawlor. I was delighted to see one of the groups winning awards recently. The figures of the Department of Education and Skills show that the school is undersubscribed. While it has the capacity for 225 students, it has in the region of 169. The Department of Education and Skills, other patron boards and the Department of Defence could play a valuable role here in dealing with the problem of oversubscription in schools in the area and possibly in providing a site for a new school, bearing in mind the needs of the ETB. Those concerned should really work together to make sure the school will be a school of choice.

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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I can chat to the Deputy privately about this. That are a number of schools, both primary and secondary, based in the Curragh Camp. I am very much aware that when they were originally set up, the number of personnel in the camp was much greater than it is now. Of course, numbers are dwindling in the schools. This is one of the first matters I inquired about after my appointment earlier this year. I know where the schools are in the Curragh Camp. There are concerns over this, as stressed by the Deputy.

Last week, I was made aware that there is a new principal in one of the schools. I, as Minister of State, have no problem whatsoever meeting the Deputy or a delegation to discuss a number of issues concerning educational requirements in the Curragh Camp.

Fiona O'Loughlin (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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I appreciate that and I will take the Minister of State up on his kind offer.

There are a number of shops and businesses in the camp that are empty and no longer of use. It is very unfortunate that these have closed and have now become very unsightly. We need to consider a regeneration programme for the Curragh. The Minister of State has assured us here on a number of occasions that plans are under way to develop the institute for peace support and leadership training at the training centre in the Curragh. I understand it is foreseen that this will be of an international standard and contribute to the overall development of knowledge and experience in the areas of conflict resolution and peace support. It is important that a regeneration programme be implemented at the same time, with a specific timescale for establishment. This is really important. Projects could run in conjunction with one another.

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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I have a number of plans for the Curragh Camp. As the Deputy is very much aware, now that there are additional cadets recruited since September, this is an area in which I personally want to invest.

If one looks back ten, 15, 20 or 30 years ago, the number of personnel in the Curragh Camp was greater. The numbers have dwindled in the schools because of the fall in the number of personnel there. There were many more commercial businesses there at that time. I would like to have resources available to me to be able to pump into the Curragh Camp. The Partnership for Peace initiative will add to the camp. On the original question the Deputy asked regarding education, I have no issue with discussing with the Oireachtas Members from the south Kildare area the facilities the Deputy outlined.