Fine Gael TD for Kildare South and Chairman of the Fine Gael Parliamentary Party, Martin Heydon, has confirmed the provision of funding from the Department of Defence for a collaborative consultancy study with Kildare County Council on the future conservation management of the Curragh Plains.
Deputy Heydon said: “From meeting constituents and residents I know how proud people are of the Plains but I am also very aware of the challenges we face with Plains as both a working environment and a potential area for heritage, recreation and tourism for the people of Kildare.
“I pushed for collaboration between officials in the Department of Defence and Kildare County Council and arranged a meeting between management of KCC and the Minister for Defence last autumn to push through this plan for a joint approach.
“The Department of Defence have now confirmed that they are to provide co-funding of €150,000 to carry out the study with Kildare County Council which will also provide €150,000. It is estimated that the study will to take 12 months to complete.”