Fiona O'Loughlin (Fianna Fail)
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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.

Jerry Buttimer (Cork South-Central, Fine Gael)
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I thank Senator O'Loughlin for bringing this matter to the attention of the House. I am responding on behalf of the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence who cannot, unfortunately, be here today. He has asked me to convey his apologies. To be fair to the Senator, she has raised this matter on numerous occasions in this House, including in her Private Member's Bill.

As we all know, the Curragh, as State land vested in the Minister for Defence, is recognised as a working environment for the State's Defence Forces, as well as being a place of historical and cultural importance, as Senator O'Loughlin rightly said. The main occupiers are the Defence Forces in the Curragh Camp, and the Curragh Racecourse, which leases a large tract of land. Additionally, the plains are used by sheep owners, who avail of rights of pasture on the lands, and by locals and visitors to Kildare as a major natural amenity. We all love the Curragh and have a strong affinity with it.

As the Senator rightly said, the Curragh is approximately 4,870 acres and is one of the most open and accessible areas in the country. While I would not wish to see this level of accessibility diminished, as a public representative from the locality, I know the Senator is acutely aware this has presented several challenges for the management of illegal camping and illegal dumping, as she rightly said. Last year saw many illegal encampments set up over the summer months, which caused a great deal of disruption and anxiety to everybody. The Department of Defence does not accept that those occupying these encampments have any right to reside on the Curragh Plains and, as such, has engaged with the Chief State Solicitor's office, CSSO, in anticipation of any potential trespassing to ensure all legal steps are taken promptly to protect the plains. In the case of trespass or criminal damage, it is the responsibility of An Garda Síochána to police the situation and my Department has engaged with the force on this issue.

In terms of addressing the challenges in the long term, the Department of Defence is working to ensure we move to a modern and sustainable regulatory model in managing this historically important landscape. As the Senator will be aware, the Department of Defence has been collaborating with Kildare County Council for several years on the Curragh consultancy project, seeking to develop a suitable future management method and to highlight the importance and significance of the heritage associated with the Curragh Plains. The project came to completion in December 2024 when the Curragh Plains conservation management plan and the associated branding, interpretation and wayfinding strategy were published by the then Tánaiste and Minister for Defence, Deputy Micheál Martin. The consultation process identified the need for a review of the Curragh by-laws and the Curragh of Kildare Act 1961 and potential amendments to provide effective solutions to challenges faced. The report also identified the need to consider, as the Senator said, a new dedicated agency to be responsible for the Curragh or to assign responsibility for the site to an existing agency with the necessary expertise to maximise the potential of the plains.

Throughout the project, the Department of Defence and Kildare County Council remained cognisant of the need to have in place a means of ensuring the conservation of this ancient landscape, while also enabling the area to receive the recognition it deserves.The plan has laid out opportunities by means of which the area can be uniquely identified and has also scoped out the development potential of the area as a high-value visitor attraction. It also aims to balance the needs of the respective users of the Curragh Plains while caring for its natural qualities, providing clear policies for its sustainable future use. The Government is committed to the implementation of these recommendations to address the opportunities and challenges, as can be seen by its inclusion in the programme for Government.

I thank Senator O'Loughlin for raising this issue repeatedly and for her advocacy and work on the matter in the Chamber. I assure her it is the intention of the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence to ensure that the Curragh Plains, as an important element of our shared heritage, are protected, while also ensuring maximum benefit for the local population and for those who come to visit the area.

Fiona O'Loughlin (Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Minister of State for his response. He spoke about accessibility for people who live in the area. This is very important, and it is something we certainly do not want to take away from them. The illegal encampments to which I referred earlier are causing great problems and financial expense for the Department and Kildare County Council. I thank both entities for their help. I also thank the local gardaí. I appreciate that the Chief State Solicitor is looking at the legislation.

I was very heartened when this was included in the programme for Government and the now Taoiseach Deputy Martin was very clear that he wanted to have it in the programme for Government. We worked closely together on it. I am concerned that I am not getting a timeline. I would appreciate it if, when the Minister of State reports back to the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence, he asks for a timeline on this. As already stated, it is now March. Easter falls next month. We absolutely cannot have a repeat of what we had in recent years. We need to have a short-term plan in place in terms of the management of the plains. We need to ensure there is a very clear timeline for putting in place the rest of the steps.

Jerry Buttimer (Cork South-Central, Fine Gael)
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I thank Senator O'Loughlin for her comments. As the Minister with responsibility for defence, the Tánaiste is the custodian and guardian of the Curragh lands pursuant to the provisions of the Curragh of Kildare Act 1961. Under the latter, the Curragh Plains are recognised as a working environment for the State's Defence Forces, as well as being a place of historic and cultural importance. As I have stated previously, the Tánaiste remains fully committed to pursuing a modern and sustainable regulatory model in the management of the historically important landscape that is the Curragh. I will convey Senator O'Loughlin's comments on the timeline.

The Curragh Plains conservation management plan, which was finalised and published last December, is under consideration by officials in the Department of Defence. This will provide the foundation for implementing the recommendations identified, including the progression of proposals for the future management of the plains. I reiterate that it is the intention of the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence to ensure that the Curragh Plains are protected, while also ensuring the maximum benefit for all stakeholders. I look forward to Senator O'Loughlin engaging further on this matter and I thank her for bringing it to the attention of the House.

Anne Rabbitte (Fianna Fail)
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I welcome Deputy Danny Healy-Rae and his visitors to the Gallery.