Fiona O'Loughlin (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I think the Minister of State is missing us a lot. He is back in the House very regularly. It is always good to have him here.

The Commencement matter I have concerns the Curragh Plains and the management of the area. In his time as Cathaoirleach, the Minister of State will know this is an issue I have raised quite a bit. Indeed, I brought forward a Private Member's Bill on the protection of the Curragh. It is a unique place, consisting of 5,000 acres in the heartland of the country and is of great cultural, heritage and ecological importance. Obviously, it is also home to the Defence Forces and the thoroughbred industry.

I raise this issue again because while many of us acknowledge there have been many problems in the management of the Curragh, which has been under the auspices of the Department of Defence, and there have been by-laws to supposedly protect the Curragh, the present Curragh legislation is not fit for purpose. We have had many problems over recent years. This was especially the case last year when we had 25 separate illegal encampments, one of which consisted of as many as 35 caravans. This has caused major problems on the Curragh for those neighbouring the area and for businesses working on its edge, including hospitality businesses. The bills for the clean-ups have amounted to millions of euro over recent years. Last year alone, the cost was €200,000. It is very important that something is done.

The Department of Defence and Kildare County Council commissioned a survey and report. Some 3,500 people responded to the survey. On 17 December 2024, the then Tánaiste and Minister for Defence, Deputy Micheál Martin, published the proposed Curragh Plains conservation management plan and interpretation, branding and wayfinding plan. These were two extremely important plans to try to preserve the importance of the Curragh for all those who use it. One recommendation is that there would be a new management plan and a different organisation would take over the management of the Curragh. It is vitally important that work is done to ensure this happens. It is also extremely important as we approach St. Patrick's Day and Easter, when illegal encampments start, that we do not have a recurrence of what happened last year and in previous years. I would like to find out from the Minister of State what plans are in place for the short, medium and long term.