Long Awaited Conservation Management Plan Expected to be Issued in Coming Weeks
Minister Martin Heydon, Fine Gael TD for Kildare South yesterday attended a meeting with senior officials in the Department of Defence at Leinster House regarding the future management of the Curragh Plains and the challenges faced by many local residents following a number of illegal encampments this summer and in previous years.
“I have received a number of complaints this summer and in previous years regarding the difficulties caused by a number of illegal encampments on the Curragh and this meeting was a good opportunity for me and other public representatives to discuss these challenges and further plans for active management of the Curragh Plains.
“In 2021 I worked with then Minister for Defence Simon Coveney on a project to establish a conservation management plan for the Curragh Plains in conjunction with Kildare County Council. I have continuously pushed for this plan to be completed and published as soon as possible, following two rounds of public consultation. The process has taken too long but yesterday we were informed that the plan will be completed in the coming weeks.
“I look forward to its publication. This plan can be the roadmap for a more proactively managed plains, bringing all who use the plains with us, very possibly under the authority of a different agency which could be the OPW, the NPWS or a new body. The management of the plains in the future will require more resources and a specific skillset for managing a very special 5,000 acres of land at the heart of Kildare.
“I will continue to actively fight for those resources and a new approach for everyone who lives near it, or who uses it for sport, recreation, work or for those who see it a really important national asset that needs to be managed better”, concluded Minster Heydon.
