Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 September 2016
32. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence his plans to provide public adequate notice for closure of roads in the vicinity of the Defence Forces firing ranges on the Curragh; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27091/16]
View answerPeople in County Kildare are very proud that the Curragh is home to the Defence Forces and the military school. It is appropriate that ranges on the Curragh are used rather than wasting time and money transporting troops elsewhere for this purpose. However, a public road known as the Hollow Road, which runs close to the Defence Forces training centre in the Curragh, is frequently closed when firing is under way. As this is a public road, local residents are sometimes required to make a detour. I ask the Minister to outline his plans to give members of the public adequate notice of the closure of roads in the vicinity of the firing ranges on the Curragh and to make a statement on the matter.
Range No. 3 is a rifle range within the Curragh Camp and since March 2016 the Defence Forces have resumed training on this range. This has resulted in the occasional temporary closure by the Defence Forces of the Hollow Road.
The temporary road closures are required as part of strict control and safety measures put in place by the Defence Forces to ensure public safety during the firing of live ammunition on Range No. 3. These occasional temporary road closures by the Defence Forces are in accordance with the provisions of section 274 of the Defence Act 1954, as amended. This provides the Defence Forces with the powers to temporarily stop all traffic in the vicinity of any place used for rifle practices.
I have been advised by the military authorities that signage is temporarily erected at either end of the Hollow Road and Brownstown on the day prior to the required closure. This gives advance notice of the date and duration of the proposed road closure and alerts local residents and road users of the need to take alternative detour routes. Military officials are on duty at either end of the Hollow Road during the road closures to control the traffic and to advise users of the alternative routes. In addition, the military authorities have advised that red warning flags are flown while firing is being conducted, and warning lights are activated in the centre of the Curragh Camp outside of the water tower, in full view of the public, as further safety and information notification measures.
It is acknowledged that the occasional temporary closure of the Hollow Road may be an inconvenience for some local residents. My officials are engaging with the Defence Forces to identify other additional methods of ensuring that users of the Hollow Road are made aware of the road closures in advance, for example, publication of closure dates on the Defence Forces website and possible announcements on local radio to ensure that any future inconvenience is kept to a minimum.
I acknowledge this is a safety matter and safety is of primary importance. Surely, however, local people should be paid the courtesy of notice in a suitable manner and it should be one of the aims of the Curragh forum to address that matter. The current signage in use is inappropriate, inadequate, open to vandalism and does not give sufficient notice to users of the road.
The Minister of State referred to the Defence Act 1954. Section 269 of the Act requires that notice be given in at least two local newspapers and, as the Minister of State mentioned, on a local radio station. I understand that section 271 of the Act states that compensation must be paid if rights and privileges are withdrawn as a result of military manoeuvres, all of which is very important. It is good to see there is continuing recruitment and other aspects of training. However, relations between local residents and the Defence Forces should be nurtured and should be mutually beneficial. Adequate notice is incredibly important.
The occasional temporary road closures at the Hollow Road by the Defence Forces are in accordance with the provisions of section 274 of the Defence Act 1954, as amended. This provides the Defence Forces with the powers to temporarily stop all traffic in the vicinity of any place used for artillery or rifle practice. I take on board the point made by the Deputy and I will bring it to the attention of the General Officer Commanding at the Curragh Camp, Brigadier General Joe Mulligan. I understand it is important that local residents are aware of when the road is to be closed. At the same time, local residents have to take on board that this is an active Army camp and there is military activity in the area. We have to close the roads on occasion due to live firing and I hope the Deputy accepts there is a safety aspect to this.
