Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 June 2026
153. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Defence if she will detail the total expenditure incurred by her Department in each of the years 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, and to date in 2026 on environmental clean-ups carried out on the Curragh Plains, County Kildare, arising from illegal encampments and associated fly-tipping; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47488/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am informed that the total expenditure incurred by my Department on environmental clean-ups carried out on the Curragh Plains, County Kildare, arising from illegal encampments and associated fly-tipping for the years requested is set out in the table below. These costs include waste collection from the Curragh and disposal to a licensed waste management facility.
|
YEAR |
COST INCLUDING V.A.T. |
|
2021 |
€58,279.61 |
|
2022 |
€159,336.25 |
|
2023 |
€125,306.14 |
|
2024 |
€185,944.94 |
|
2025 |
€44,223.14 |
|
2026 (To 18 June 2026) |
€27,812.59 |
Illegal dumping and fly-tipping on the Curragh Plains has quite often resulted in significant expenses for the Department of Defence. In the last several years, costs have been very high owing to a preponderance of illegal encampments on the Curragh. While it has been necessary to remedy issues of occasional fly-tipping, the majority of services rendered related to the aftermath of illegal encampments which can include large amounts of human and household waste and landscaping or garden waste. This waste is harmful to livestock legitimately grazing on the Curragh and also affects recreational users of the Curragh Plains.
Naturally, the Department of Defence does not condone nor permit any of this illegal activity and has always engaged, and continues to engage as appropriate, with An Garda Síochána, the local authority (Kildare County Council) and the Chief State Solicitor’s Office in an effort to eliminate any such anti-social behaviour.
