Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh (Kildare South, Sinn Fein)
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334. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of sheep farmers that graze their sheep on the Curragh; and the number of sheep on the Curragh, in tabular form. [18602/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Grazing of sheep on the Curragh Plains is permitted under the Curragh of Kildare Acts of 1870, 1961 and 1969. The number of sheep farmers that graze their sheep on the Curragh varies from year to year.

In 2024 the Department received applications from 29 sheep farmers, comprising of 4,412 individual sheep claims. “Claims” in this regard belong to various land owners in townlands surrounding the Curragh of Kildare. I am advised that the current available number of sheep claims is 5,995.