Fiona O'Loughlin (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for coming in. I appreciate this is outside of her remit and I am disappointed that Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Deputy Malcolm Noonan, is not here. His mother is from just outside the area in Kildare, so he has a knowledge of the area. I do appreciate that Deputy Butler is here. The Minister of State has indeed heard me speak often about the Curragh, and about the mythology and the folklore that is associated with it. In particular, I have spoken about Brigid and of course, we have Brigid 1500 this year, as well as our new national bank holiday in honour of a woman, which is a great thing. It is one that we all get to celebrate.

The Curragh is absolutely the jewel in the Kildare crown. We Lilywhites are very proud of it. It is a 5,000 acre piece of land that is under the care and protection of the Department of Defence. The Army base there is very much a part of the Curragh and of Kildare. It is considered to be the oldest and most extensive tract of land in Europe. It provides the setting for one of Ireland’s most significant prehistoric landscapes.

The Curragh is also home to the racing industry. While we have the Curragh racecourse, we also have many trainers and breeders right beside the Curragh. It is something that we feel very strongly about. The unique flora and fauna are also something we feel strongly about, and we have to do everything in our power to protect the Curragh heritage and ecological value. We must ensure that we are utilising it to its full potential. It provides a great amenity area for people in the locality to come to walk, enjoy the fresh air and get to experience the Curragh. It is also of great importance from an archaeological point of view. Local people have a great respect for it and, for this reason, it should have the highest level of protection while at the same time affording the opportunity for people - local, national and international, to enjoy the beautiful surroundings.

For several years, there has been an issue with illegal encampments and illegal dumping. They completely take away from the beauty of the Curragh for those who wish to use it daily. Only last week, the fourth and fifth greens in the Cill Dara Golf Club were ruined. It is going to take thousands of euro to put it back to its proper state. Every year, Kildare County Council pays millions taking the waste away afterwards. It is beyond time we do something about this. The gardaí are doing their best, but they are stymied. We need new by-laws for the Department of Defence. I have been in touch with the Tánaiste’s office to organise a meeting on this.

The Kildare County Council and the Department of Defence have appointed the Paul Hogarth Company, together with other specialist consultants, to undertake a conservation management plan and a branding, wayfinding and interpretation plan for the Curragh Plains. This is really important and we want to see progress in this. The Tánaiste has said that he is prepared to sit down, and we need Minister of State, Deputy Malcolm Noonan, to sit down also. All of us who are familiar with and look on the Curragh as a jewel, need to see action taking place in all of these areas.