Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick City, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the opportunity to respond on this matter on behalf of the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence, Deputy Micheál Martin, who is unfortunately not available tonight. I also thank Senator O’Loughlin for tabling this Bill and Senator Chambers for seconding it. The fact that Senator O'Loughlin has proposed these measures shows how necessary they are.

The Minister for Defence is the custodian and guardian of the Curragh lands, pursuant to the provisions of the Curragh of Kildare Act 1961, which the Senator referenced. Under that Act, the Curragh Plains are recognised as a working environment for the State's Defence Forces as well as a place of historical and cultural importance. The Minister remains fully committed to pursuing a modern and sustainable regulatory model in managing the historically important landscape that is the Curragh.

The main occupiers of the plains are the Defence Forces in the Curragh Camp and the Curragh Racecourse, which leases a large tract of land from the Department of Defence. The Curragh is approximately 4,870 acres and is one of the most open and accessible areas in the country. As Members may know, this easy accessibility is due to the fact that most of the Curragh lands are unfenced. Such access brings both considerable opportunities but also challenges, which we all recognise need to be addressed. While none of us wish to see this level of accessibility diminished, it has, however, resulted in the use of the plains for illegal camping and illegal dumping. This issue has become particularly pressing over the course of last summer, which has led to considerable local concern.

For the past several years, the Department of Defence has been working in co-operation with Kildare County Council on the Curragh consultancy project, seeking to develop a suitable future management method to allow the various stakeholders on the Curragh to exercise their rights while, at the same time, allowing public access and encouraging adherence to environmental restrictions. As part of this consultancy project, there were extensive public consultations, which included a survey on the Curragh Plains website, a webinar and a public drop-in event. More than 3,000 submissions were received from the general public, which highlights the level of interest in, and enthusiasm for, the Curragh. The report arising from this process identified a number of measures for consideration. I understand that, as Senator O'Loughlin referenced, the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence visited her last week and has just this week received the final draft, which he intends to publish shortly.

Measures identified by the report include the following. The implementation of the conservation management plan, CMP, will provide the basis for all future decisions concerning the management of the heritage of the Curragh Plains, while providing a clear direction towards sustainable conservation and development. The CMP will also identify a framework of policies and actions around which that significance can be promoted, protected and sustained. Another measure is a review of the Curragh by-laws and the Curragh of Kildare Act with a view to identifying possible amendments that could potentially provide more effective solutions to the issues of illegal encampments, illegal dumping, illegal parking and other key issues.

The potential for either establishing a new agency for the Curragh or assigning an existing specialist State agency to manage the plains was also raised. Such a measure would allow for enhanced engagement with stakeholders and the general public, improved day-to-day management of the plains and better enforcement of the Curragh of Kildare Act, its associated by-laws and other regulations. Another measure identified is the development of the Curragh as a tourist destination, potentially including the development of a Curragh visitor, management and archive centre. Coupled with this would be the creation of an overarching brand concept for the plains. This would maximise the impact of focal points such as the Curragh Military Museum and the Curragh Racecourse.

The Curragh Plains are an important resource, not only for the people of Kildare but for the whole nation.As such, it is vitally important that we protect this site, while ensuring that future generations benefit from the historic, educational and natural amenities it features. For that reason, I again thank Senator O’Loughlin for bringing forward this Private Member’s Bill, and I assure her, on behalf of the Tánaiste, that while the Government may seek amendments to the Bill on Committee stage, any such proposed Government amendments to the Bill will not only strengthen the protection of the Curragh but will also involve a de novoapproach to how we manage the Curragh, ranging from looking at the governance arrangements through to the current and future uses of the Curragh plains.