Do not forget about Athy.

Sentiment score: 0.17

Ba mhaith liom mo bhuíochas ag ghabháil leis an Cheann Comhairle as ucht an ábhair tábhachtach seo a roghnú. Tréaslaím ar an gcéad dul síos leis an mbeirt Aire Stáit, mo chairde Jerry Buttimer agus Neale Richmond, atá i láthair. Tá mé cinnte go ndéanfaidh siad sár-jab sna poist atá acu agus leis na dualgais atá acu le comhlíonadh. Tréaslaím chomh maith leis an Teachta nua ó Chill Dara Thuaidh, mo comhghleacaí, Aodhán Ó Fearghaíl. The Curragh is an almost 5,000 acre plain located between Newbridge, Kildare and Kilcullen. It is a limestone plain that lies over a massive aquifer with the potential to supply water to many parts of the county and perhaps the country. It is a valuable national and local resource. We have a problem, which has existed for many years in some aspects, insofar as it is used, quite correctly, by the bloodstock sector, the sheep farming sector, by the Defence Forces and for recreation and amenity purposes by the public, but there has never been any effective control or management of those uses. I would not want to see any of those uses inhibited but I would like to see them managed. In the past six or eight years, however, we have seen a new phenomenon develop where hordes of caravans descend upon the Curragh plains between the months of June and, last year, October. In the early years they could be numbered in the dozens. There were almost uncountable numbers present in 2024 at a variety of locations across the Curragh plains. The cost of the clean-up after this unauthorised holiday camp was eventually vacated was something of the order of €190,000 just for one year. Could anyone in this Chamber imagine the Phoenix Park being invaded and turned into an unofficial holiday camp? Could anyone imagine it with the lakes of Killarney, Glenveagh National Park, or any other resource of similar importance in the country? No, they could not, and it would never happen. Why would it never happen? Because there is an effective management structure in place for those resources. No such resource exists in respect of the Curragh. In 2015, I published a Bill attempting to set out criteria under which a consultative body could at least be appointed. This would have been made up of the interested users and would have included Kildare County Council. The programme for Government says that the Government will operate a conservation plan for the Curragh and will seek to identify the agency best suited to manage the historic plains. I have no doubt but that my constituency colleague, the Minister, Deputy Heydon, who was one of the negotiators of the programme for Government, was instrumental in ensuring that provision was included in the plan. It is great to have it there. The plan for Government is full of wonderful aspirations but this is one that must be acted on urgently. We cannot have a recurrence in 2025 of what we had in Kildare in 2024. When is there going to be action? There needs to be effective action before June of this year.

Sentiment score: 0.14

I acknowledge the fact that, having raised this on questions on promised legislation last week, the Tánaiste subsequently spoke to me and indicated that it was a priority for him. However, I have to stress that the wheels of democracy and of our systems move very slowly. I also put it to the Minister of State that the Department of Defence has been remiss in dealing with An Garda Síochána. As far as I am concerned, An Garda Síochána has been active in trying to deal with the situation that has existed. There is a High Court order dating back 20 years that empowers An Garda and the Department of Defence to do something about illegal encampments. When it came to the crunch, the Department of Defence told An Garda to do nothing and not to proceed. We cannot continue to do nothing. Something must be put in place before this summer comes. We cannot allow this to happen. It is not just about the degradation of the plains, the real damage that is being done to the bloodstock industry or the impeding of the recreational use of the Curragh; it is about the risks that arise from large-scale unauthorised development of any nature taking place in an area where there is a total lack of control. That is the particular problem. If something happens and somebody is injured or hurt or if some other travesty occurs, we will all be very seriously concerned but the point is that we now have a short period of time in which to take action. I urge that action be taken immediately.

Sentiment score: -0.16