Martin Conway (Fine Gael)
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I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Peter Burke for attending. I did not realise he was in the anteroom so I apologise for delaying him. I call Senator O'Loughlin.

Fiona O'Loughlin (Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Cathaoirleach for selecting this Commencement matter and the Minister of State for making himself available.. The Tánaiste, as Minister for Defence, contacted me to apologise that he could not take this matter as he is meeting with PDFORRA, which is a very important organisation to the whole Defence Forces family, so I totally accept why he cannot be here. As a very proud Lillywhite, I know only too well the closeness and pride the people of County Kildare feel for the Curragh of Kildare, which is not just a jewel in the crown of Kildare but a national treasure. It is a place of great importance from an ecological, archaeological and cultural perspective. It is a great place for local people to walk and to enjoy because it is bordered by many towns and villages, including Kildare, Newbridge, Miltown, Athgarvan, and Kilcullen. Local people have great respect for it but unfortunately not everyone has the same respect, and there are ongoing issues on an annual basis with illegal encampments and the dumping of waste around the Curragh. It is for this, and many other reasons that is should have the highest level of protection.

The Curragh is the largest area of semi-natural grassland in the country and has largely remained uncultivated for more than 1,500 years. Over the centuries, its own unique flora has evolved, especially in its fungi. Furthermore, having been used in ancient times as a place of assembly and ritual it is rich in archaeological remains. According to the Kildare Archaeological Society, for at least 1,500 years the Curragh was an open unenclosed commonage used for the grazing of sheep, which of course still goes on, the training of horses. which still goes on, and as an assembly and training ground by armies. The very first sub-division of the Curragh was in the 1840s. The Dublin to Cork railway was built right across the Curragh. In the 1860s, the Curragh camp was built and there was a large appropriation for rifle ranges. There is still a very vibrant and active barracks to this day.

It is also a mythical place. The Curragh was used as a meeting place in pre-Christian societies and is shrouded in a mist of mythology. The Hill of Allen is to the north of the Curragh and that was a meeting place of Fionn Mac Cumhaill and the Fianna and, as I have referenced many times in the Chamber, legend has it that in approximately 480 AD St. Brigid intended to found a monastery in Kildare town. She asked the High King of Leinster for land on which to build and he said he would grant her as much land as her cloak could cover. She put her cloak on the ground and of course the cloak grew to cover the entire Curragh Plains, 5,000 acres of which are now under the care and protection of the Department of Defence.

However, I believe we need to do more to support and secure the long-term viability and heritage status of the Curragh. Kildare County Council and the Department of Defence appointed the Paul Hogarth Company, together with other consultants, to undertake a conservation plan and a branding, way finding, and interpretation plan for the Curragh Plains. They have liaised with public representatives and the public. More than 4,000 submissions were received. There is huge scope within all of this to secure the long-term viability of the Curragh. Yesterday, I met two local ladies, Ms Kate McCoy and Ms Mona O'Donnell, who were out for a walk. They stressed the need for proper car parking. I gather from conversations with the Minister for Defence, Deputy Micheál Martin, that we are coming to a point where strong recommendations will be made. I understand there is a possibility that the OPW, will be recommended as future custodian of the plains. I fully support this. While we do need to see a long-term vision for the Curragh, I reiterate my call for national heritage status for the Curragh.What is the Department's long-term plan for the Curragh and how will the Government support our call for national heritage status?

Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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I apologise for the absence of the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence. I thank Senator O'Loughlin for raising the very important matter of the future management and protection of the Curragh plains. The Tánaiste would also like to reassure the House that the future management and protection of the unique biodiversity of the Curragh plains, coupled with its importance from a military perspective and its long-standing association with agricultural and horse-racing industries, is not lost on him. The importance of the 5,000 acres of unique grassland as a place of significant natural beauty that should be protected for generations to come is, thankfully, a principle accepted by all, near to and far from the Curragh plains.

To that end, the Department of Defence, together with Kildare County Council, embarked on a unique collaboration aimed at finding a way forward and addressing the many challenges involved in managing and developing the plains. I readily acknowledge that Senator O'Loughlin has been very supportive of this initiative, which involves two State agencies working together to map a way forward for what has proved to be a complex case study. The key objectives of the study are to implement best practice methodologies to protect the landscape, caring for its natural qualities and uniqueness by balancing the needs of its multiple users; and to identity the potential to improve the recreational and educational value of the Curragh as a resource for local people while increasing visitor numbers on a sustainable basis.

A public consultation process was commenced in March 2021, which, given Covid restrictions, was conducted through the Curragh plains website. The response, as the Senator will be aware, was phenomenal. Over 3,600 responses were received, demonstrating the strength of feeling about the Curragh plains. This was followed by a series of targeted virtual workshops with the various stakeholders, including several Members of both Houses as well as local councillors. I thank them for their participation. This process concluded late last year with a wrap-up consultation to ensure the findings reached are reflective of people's wishes and hopes for the Curragh. It is accepted that the overall study has taken longer to complete for a number of reasons. However, the overarching goal for both the Department and the council was and is to get it right rather than just get it done.

I am advised that the final drafting of the study has been effectively concluded among officials and it is now intended that a draft consultation management plan aimed at managing the protection of the Curragh plains, coupled with a branding and interpretative plan aimed at increasing awareness of the importance of the plains and respect from those visiting and using them, will be submitted to the Tánaiste for consideration in the coming weeks. I am advised that these reports, taken together, combine a wide range of recommendations, some of which can be implemented if agreed on in the short term, versus those that may require structural changes to governance of the Curragh plains up to and including possible amendment of the Curragh of Kildare Act 1961.

I thank Senator O'Loughlin for raising this matter. I look forward to any additional comments she would like to make.

Fiona O'Loughlin (Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Minister of State. It is heartening to know this report should be ready in a few weeks and that the recommendations are currently being looked at. The national heritage status is absolutely key. While we may see this area being transferred to the OPW, which would be a good home, there are obviously a number of different Departments involved, including the Departments of Defence, Housing, Local Government and Heritage and Agriculture, Food and the Marine. Possibly, funding should come from all those places. The Minister of State mentioned possibly amending the Curragh of Kildare Act. I believe that will happen. I have a Bill I hope to introduce over the next two months that relates to the illegal encampments and waste in the area. It has been verified by all the submissions that this is a very special place and we want everybody to be able to use it safely and securely while protecting the Curragh itself.

Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Senator for her additional comments. I acknowledge the sentiment that the Curragh is a unique and special place in the hearts and minds of the people of Kildare and, indeed, those beyond who have the pleasure of visiting it and the many who make their living on foot of it. I welcome the Senator’s intention to introduce a Private Member’s Bill, as referenced in her contribution, around the issues of enforcement of the various encampments and fly-tipping, which sadly is a feature at the Curragh and needs to be prevented, as well as antisocial behaviour. I will reaffirm what the Senator said to the Tánaiste and I am sure he will be in touch with her directly over the coming weeks when the report is finalised.