Ryan calls for Curragh to be protected
Sinn Féin TD for South Kildare, Patricia Ryan, has called for the Curragh to be designated as a National Park, and for the National Parks and Wildlife Service to be properly resourced. Speaking in the Dáil yesterday, Patricia said:
“I welcome the publication of the Strategic Action Plan for the Renewal of the NPWS. Investment in the service is long overdue. It suffered greatly during the austerity years and only recently returned to pre-recession budget allocation. We need to see similar investment in our local authority staff, who are struggling to provide basic services.
They are at the coalface of heritage protection and are best placed to notice the need for action as they work on the ground. Objectives to be completed over the next two and a half years include 15 strategic actions that I hope will ensure that the National Parks and Wildlife Service is resourced and equipped and has a robust organisational structure.
We need to support our farmers in the conservation work that they do and to find the right balance between food production and habitat protection. Our farmers get little thanks for the work they do. We need to listen to them about how best they can be supported. We also need a proper plan in place to address invasive species such as rhododendron and Japanese knotweed.
I cannot allow this debate to pass without mentioning the Curragh of Kildare. It needs to be made a national park and rescued from the indifference of the Department of Defence which presided over the disgraceful dumping of God knows what during the filling of a hollow next to Donnelly’s Hollow. The Minister of State is aware that I spoken about this in the past. It has not gone away and neither have I. This issue needs to be addressed. The toleration also of illegal encampments and the neglectful approach that the Department brings to this issue needs to be addressed. The Curragh is the heart of Kildare and it needs to be protected.
Link to debate:
https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/2022-05-19/34/#spk_256