I thank the Ceann Comhairle for selecting this matter for discussion. It relates to something that I find myself returning to repeatedly. While housing continues to be the number one issue in County Kildare and in other parts of the country, there is huge public anger around the manner in which the Curragh Plains are managed or not managed as the case might be. What is the Curragh? It is a 5,000-acre stretch of land resting between the areas of Kilcullen, Kildare and Newbridge. It is a proglacial fluvial plain formed during the Ice Age. I did not witness its formation, but I accept what we are told. The Curragh sits on a bedrock of limestone. Under that limestone, is a huge aquifer which, we are told, is one of the largest in the country. Interestingly, the aquifer in question feeds water into Pollardstown Fen. That is interesting because, quite recently, within a couple of kilometres of the Curragh, Guinness spent €300 million opening a new production plant and committed to spending another €400 million on the second phase of that plant. It is also interesting because the first Guinness was allegedly made with water from Pollardstown Fen. The Currragh is used for legitimate purposes. Sheep are grazed there, the bloodstock industry uses it and the Defence Forces has its headquarters there. It was also used during the British occupation. It is an amenity that is used for numerous recreational purposes. It is a great place I am told on a good moonlit night to observe the skies. I have not been doing that myself for a long time but nonetheless I understand that is the case. What is required now is a new management structure and that management structure is committed to in the programme for Government. Why is it needed? It is needed because of misuse of the plains, and unregulated use and overuse leading to the degradation of the national and local resource the Curragh Plains are. What is the problem? Bloodstock is using the plains. That is well managed by the racecourse and HRI, and it is well regulated. Sheep farming for the most part is controlled and well regulated. It is on a headage and lease basis, although some would argue there are far more sheep grazing now than perhaps there should be. There is certainly more than was obvious in the aftermath of the restrictions introduced during foot and mouth some decades ago. The leisure and amenity use is widespread and accepted but there is abuse of driving on the plains, indiscriminate parking, scrambling and other uses being made. Fly tipping is a huge problem. However, one of the most acute difficulties in recent years has been the regular establishment over the past decade of illegal encampments on the plains. I pay tribute to the former Minister for Defence and the current Tánaiste, Deputy Simon Harris. He was the first person to seriously tackle that matter. Once he got his teeth into it, the Department of Defence moved rapidly each year to clear these illegal encampments. I pay tribute to the Secretary General, Jackie McCrum, and to Jason Kearney, the property manager there. There is huge expense being incurred by the State each year going to court to get court orders and carrying out the clean ups. It is not sustainable that would continue. We need a new management system in place, and we need it urgently.

Sentiment score: 0.05

I thank the Minister of State for a positive reply. We have known for some time that the Government favours the idea of the National Parks and Wildlife Service taking on the management of the plains. I am not so sure the National Parks and Wildlife Service itself is wildly enthusiastic about the prospect. It involves huge additional financial resources, and extra manpower will be needed. Kildare County Council conducted widespread consultation when it drafted its consultation and management plan for the Curragh. It attracted more than 3,600 public submissions. It was the largest number of submissions ever received in respect of any project in County Kildare. It is indicative of the level of interest there is in getting this right. I think the National Parks and Wildlife Service would be the right body but it will have to look at the Curragh differently to how it looks at the Phoenix Park or other areas of national importance. It will have to ensure it can guarantee that the legitimate regulated use of the plains by the bloodstock sector, the sheep sector and those involved in recreation and amenity can continue in an orderly and regulated manner that does not contribute to any degradation of the plains. However, this illegal encampment process going on year-in, year-out is a cause of incredible frustration. It is driving investment away from the area. Remember, huge crowds of people come to the Curragh for the major racing festivals. They are very often people with money to spend. They are not terribly attracted to a county where these unauthorised developments take place. It is not that everyone who comes treats the place with disdain. We had people from France last year who came with their caravans, mobile homes, toilets and bins. That is all grand but they would not be able to do it in the Phoenix Park, and they should not be able to do it in Kildare.

Sentiment score: 0.20