Almost €1.5m spent on cleaning up litter from Curragh Plains in past 9 years

More than €1.5m has been spent on cleaning up illegal dumping across the Curragh Plains since 2016, new figures have revealed.

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

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

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

The Senator recently brought the Minister for Defence and Tánaiste on a visit to the Curragh Plains.

The Senator said: “We are all well aware of the ongoing issues with illegal encampments, and I have been strong and relentless in my pursuit for action from the authorities. I even introduced legislation which passed second stage in the Seanad recently that seeks to protect the Curragh from the scourge of illegal encampments.

"The Curragh is one of Irelands 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.”

Senator O'Loughlin concluded: “I am fully committed to working with the Department of Defence, Kildare County Council and an Tanaiste to protect and enhance the long-term prospects of the Curragh Plains, and if elected to the next Dáil, I will ensure that the Curragh remains top of the agenda.”