Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 141: To ask the Minister for Defence his plans to protect the Curragh of Kildare plains; if he will reactivate the Curragh of Kildare Bill that was withdrawn by the last Government; if he or his Department had any meetings or are planning such with interested parties or agencies that use the Curragh of Kildare as part of their activities be they employment commercial or sporting; the decisions that have been made regarding the protection of the plains, its monuments and its further use; if illegal parking or destruction of the plains was discussed or determined; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29980/12]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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In relation to the Curragh of Kildare Bill a number of technical issues arose which caused difficulty in progressing the Bill. Also the establishment of the Authority as a separate agency under the aegis of the Department of Defence (as proposed in the Bill) would involve additional costs in terms of staff, accommodation, expenses and payments to members of the Authority, which would be significantly greater than the costs incurred by my Department in administering the Curragh Lands. This Government has targeted the rationalisation of State agencies as a key cost saving measure and in that context it would be inappropriate to establish a separate agency to manage work currently being done by my Department. Given the requirements of administrative efficiency, and the technical difficulties with the Bill I do not consider it prudent to reactivate the Bill. The management and protection of the Curragh plains is an on-going process. The Curragh provides a working environment for three main users, the Defence Forces, the horse-racing and training industry and sheep owners. In recent years there has also been a marked increase in the level of use as a leisure facility mainly because of the population growth in the area.

Officials from my Department meet regularly with the various parties involved in the use and management of the Curragh, for example there have recently been meetings with the Turf Club, the Curragh Golf Club, An Garda Síochána and Kildare County Council. A wide range of issues are discussed at these meetings including the development and protection of the Curragh plains and how best to deal with the day to day issues of illegal parking, dumping etc.

Also as part of the on-going management of the Curragh my Department officials liaise with various Departments and State Agencies including the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government and the Chief State Solicitors Office to ensure that best practice is adhered to in relation to the development and up keep of the Curragh Plains.