Departmental Properties
Seanad Éireann — 2026-06-23
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Fiona O'Loughlin (FF), Administrative Panel

I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Troy, for coming to the House - in fairness, he is always ready to step up and serve in whatever way he can - but I am disappointed the Minister for Defence is not taking this Commencement matter. I have tabled a number of Commencement matters about the Curragh over the past year and the Minister has never come in to take any of them. I had the opportunity to speak to her briefly about it, as well as communicating via numerous emails.
The situation in the Curragh is absolutely appalling. In recent years I have flagged, as have many others, the illegal encampments that come to the Curragh. Year after year I get the same emails from the same people and I am embarrassed and frustrated that I have to go back without any real answer about what is happening with the Curragh. The latest instalment of the encampment is between 80 and 100 caravans. There is a big tent like a circus tent in the middle of the Curragh. There are portaloos. The rubbish, as Minister of State will be able to imagine, with that number of people there illegally, is mounting up. Bear in mind that approximately two months ago, €180,000 of taxpayers' money was spent on removing the rubble that was there. One of the greens in Cill Dara Golf Club has been damaged. Two of them were damaged last year.
Given that a court order has been made, I cannot understand how they are still there. Having had numerous meetings with An Garda Síochána, which has said it is willing to support the Department of Defence in whatever way it can, I cannot understand how they are still there. I had a meeting with the Minister, Deputy Jim O'Callaghan, recently about how the Department of justice can support the Department of Defence at this point in time.
There is a huge environmental impact. There is a severe strain on and potential degradation of the fragile Curragh ecosystem, which is hugely important. There is a huge social nuisance. There is a restriction of access for local residents who utilise the plains to exercise and rest and for recreation and there is a significant visual impact on this historic, protected landscape.
On Sunday, I was at the induction of Jim Kavanagh into the Irish Derby Festival Hall of Fame. Jim is the former chief executive of the Irish Racehorse Trainers Association. He is a passionate advocate for the Curragh. He is a real racing historian and curator and has put together a wonderful museum of racing legends. Sadly, he had to devote most of his speech to what is happening in the Curragh. The Curragh is internationally recognised for its thoroughbred industry. There is a real concern among the many trainers based around it about bringing their horses out; about rubbish being there that could damage the horses; and about animals, including dogs and horses, being mistreated. Of course there is always concern about contagious diseases.
I hope the Minister of State has some type of reply for me because we need to have long-term preventative measures and we need the current issues to be remedied as soon as possible.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/seanad/2026-06-23/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:55:05+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-06-23