Number of illegal encampments on Curragh Plains jumped in 2024

A total of 25 illegal encampments up to October 11

The number of illegal encampments on the Curragh Plains has jumped by 66% so far in 2024 when compared to 2023.

There was a total of 25 illegal encampments up to October 11 while there were 33 caravans in one location at one point, according to information provided by the Minister for Defence.

The issue of illegal encampments is regularly raised with Kildare County Council and the Department of Defence by local councillors as well as in the Dáil and Seanad chambers by Kildare representatives.

Parliamentary question

The information on the illegal encampments was contained in the reply to a parliamentary question to outgoing Kildare South TD Patricia Ryan, who left the Sinn Féin party and is running in the general election as an independent candidate.

There was a total of 15 encampments in 2023 while the highest number of caravans in one location was 28.

The equivalent figures for encampments in 2022, 2021 and 2020 were 20, 13 and 19 respectively.

The information stated that the encampments can arrive as early as January or February and they can continue up to November or December during some years. 

Cleaning up 

It also emerged recently that more than €1.5m has been spent on cleaning up illegal dumping across the Curragh Plains since 2016.

This figure includes over €185,000 spent up to October 10 this year. 

The information was provided to Fianna Fáil TD Padraig O'Sullivan by the Minister for Defence. 

Independent TD Ryan said: “Illegal encampments and fly tipping not only cause public eyesores, they pose a serious and unacceptable environmental risk to the flora and fauna of the Curragh – full enforcement and accountability is essential to preserve the wild beauty of it.

“It is of no use for illegal encampments to be removed from one location only to move to another location on the Curragh...”

Newbridge based Senator Fiona O’Loughlin also said urgent action is needed to reduce the amount of illegal dumping and the costs involved in cleaning it up. 

Senator O'Loughlin said: “The Curragh is one of Ireland’s most unique landscapes and the levels of dumping we have seen, which is borne out in the clean-up costs - need to be dealt with.”