Written answers

Wednesday, 14 October 2015

Department of Defence

Defence Forces Properties

Photo of Seán Ó FearghaílSeán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

42. To ask the Minister for Defence the staffing structure his Department has in place to oversee and manage the Curragh Plains in County Kildare; the annual cost of such management; his plans to further improve the management system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35856/15]

Photo of Simon CoveneySimon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The management and protection of the Curragh plains is an on-going process. The Curragh provides a working environment for the Defence Forces, the horse-racing and training industry and sheep owners. In addition, 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 have regular contact with the various parties involved in the use and management of the Curragh to discuss a wide range of issues 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.

My Department currently employs a staff of three full time civilian employees at the Curragh to look after day to day affairs of the Curragh Plains and to ensure that the Curragh Bye-Laws are being complied with. These staff carry out functions such as branding of sheep, maintenance of lands, removal of litter etc,. In addition to the three full time employees the Department also has in place an environmental maintenance contract which provides additional assistance in the ongoing maintenance and upkeep of the Curragh Plains. The total cost of staff and the environmental maintenance contact is approximately €343,000 per annum.

Also, within the Department of Defence a number of staff in the Property Management Branch are responsible for the administrative tasks associated with the management of the Curragh Plains. These tasks include the administration of the sheep grazing on the Plains, dealing with issues of illegal encampments and dumping, management of the various leases/licences, requests by the public to use the Plains, management of the maintenance contracts and many other issues relating to the Curragh which regularly arise.

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.