“We are watching The Curragh getting destroyed right in front of us” — Kildare Cllr

A councillor has claimed that Kildare County Council (KCC) and her fellow local representatives are 'watching The Curragh getting destroyed in front of our eyes.'

Fine Gael Cllr Tracey O’Dwyer made the comments at the latest Kildare-Newbridge Municipal District (MD) meeting, which took place on Wednesday, July 17 last.

She was speaking in relation to a motion submitted by Fianna Fáil Cllr Suzanne Doyle to KCC, which read as follows: "That the council engages with the Department of Defence and An Garda Síochána to seek an inter-agency response to the issue of illegal encampments on The Curragh."

Cllr Doyle’s motion was seconded by her party colleague Cllr Rob Power.

In response, KCC said: "The council cannot take action on illegal encampments on the Curragh Plains as this is not council-owned lands.

"If the members are in agreement, the council can write to the Department of Defence and An Garda Síochána in relation to this matter," KCC added.

Commenting on the issue of illegal encampments, Cllr Doyle said: "There is no grazing land left for the sheep and there is waste being dumped."

She also said that An Garda Síochána 'is equally exasperated' over this issue, as they cannot take action without an appropriate court order.

Cllr Doyle suggested that a meeting with An Garda Síochána should take place, alongside KCC’s Environment Department.

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"We need to push the matter further and I think that the letter should be addressed to the Minister of the Environment," she added, referring to Minister Eamon Ryan.

Cllr O’Dwyer also supported Cllr Doyle’s motion, and cited the apparent frequency of the issue of illegal encampments.

"It’s a roundabout situation at this stage," she added: "We are watching The Curragh getting destroyed in front of our eyes."

Cllr O’Dwyer also claimed that the Department of Defence needed to do more to protect the amenity of The Curragh.

Social Democrats Cllr Chris Pender also said that he agreed with Cllr Doyle’s submissions.

He added: "KCC and councillors have been getting it in the neck over this issue, even though the Department of Defence is in charge of the area."

Cllr Pender further said: "We need to be keener on looking at transient sites to avoid illegal encampments."

His party colleague, Cllr Pat Balfe, also said that the issue 'is both a sensitive and a complex' one.

It was eventually decided that a letter would be sent to request an in-committee meeting, otherwise known as an in-camera meeting, with the Department of Defence, An Garda Síochána and KCC.

The comments were made by Fine Gael Cllr Tracey O'Dwyer (LEFT), while the original motion was submitted by Fianna Fáil Cllr Suzanne Doyle (RIGHT).