255. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Defence the cost to her Department, of clean-up operations arising from illegal encampments and dumping on the Curragh Plains for each of the years 2016 to 2025, inclusive; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55047/26]

256. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Defence the number of separate illegal encampments recorded on the Curragh Plains; the maximum number of caravans present at any one location, for each of the years 2016 to 2019, inclusive; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55048/26]

257. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Defence the earliest date on which her Department has a record of an illegal encampment being notified or reported on the Curragh Plains; the number of non-trespass or injunction orders sought by his Department in respect of the Curragh Plains prior to 1992; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55049/26]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 255 to 257, inclusive, together.

As the Deputy may be aware, the Curragh, as State land vested in the Minister for Defence, is recognised as a working environment for the state's Defence Forces as well as being a place of historic and cultural importance. The Curragh Plains at approximately 4,870 acres, is one of the most open and accessible areas in the country. This can present challenges for management around illegal camping and illegal dumping.

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 now rendered relate to the aftermath of illegal encampments which can include large amounts of biological and household waste.

I am informed that the total expenditure incurred by my Department on environmental clean-ups carried out on the Curragh Plains, County Kildare, including those 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. The table shown below indicates the amount spent on illegal dumping and other related matters such as works for necessary maintenance on the Plains such as remedial work following storms, cutting of trees, harrowing cut-up ground and repairing of sheep pens. Those services are now generally contracted to individual contractors with a separate main contract for waste collection and disposal only. In recognition of the significant impact of illegal encampments in recent years, my Department now records the costs arising from illegal encampments and associated fly-tipping separately from 2025 onwards.

My Department does not hold records on the number of separate encampments or numbers of caravans present in locations for the years 2016 to 2019. I am informed that following an earlier review of Departmental files, there are records from 1966 documenting occurrences of trespass on the Curragh.

The Department of Defence have been actively pursuing all available legal measures to protect the plains.

My officials have recently been working in tandem with the Chief State Solicitor's Office (CSSO) with regard to these illegal encampments on the Curragh. My officials have acted promptly to ensure action is taken to protect the Plains and since the end of May 2026 have secured three (3) High Court orders against those in illegal occupation. These orders have been served on those in illegal occupation. We have no records of non-trespass or injunction orders sought by his Department in respect of the Curragh Plains prior to 1992.