Léim ar aghaidh chuig an bpríomhábhar
Gnáthamharc

Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 11 Nov 1998

Vol. 496 No. 4

Written Answers. - Curragh Task Force.

Ruairí Quinn

Ceist:

82 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for Defence the membership of the interdepartmental task force to report on the future management and development of the Curragh of Kildare; the work programme to be undertaken by this group; and the number of times this group has met. [22988/98]

The task force is chaired by Major General P. Nowlan, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces, and in addition to officials of the Department of Defence (both civilian and military) the following Departments-State agencies are represented on the Curragh task force: Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry; Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands; Department of the Environment and Local Government; Department of Finance; Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform; Kildare County Council and Midlands East Regional Tourism Authority.

The terms of reference of the task force are as follows: (a) to make recommendations as to the most appropriate Department or State agency to have overall responsibility for the Curragh having regard to its significant archaeological, cultural, environmental and historical importance; (b) to examine and report on the existing situation with regard to the use and management of the Curragh; (c) to make recommendations on the future control, management and staffing structure which requires to be put in place to ensure the effective operation and preservation of the area into the next millennium; (d) to examine and report on existing legislation governing the use of the area and to make recommendations with regard to future legislative requirements; (e) to consider and report on the possibility of the region being developed as a leisure and amenity area with greater public access; (f) to seek submissions from all interested parties, both statutory and non-statutory including the relevant local authority, Kildare County Council; (g) to examine and report on the existing prison facility with a view to its expansion to meet accommodation demands.
The task force has held six meetings to date.
Barr
Roinn