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New Cattle Grids On Curragh Would Cost €80K Each

Photo: Pixabay

It comes as the issue of sheep "wandering off" the plains has been raised

It has been revealed that each new cattle grid installed in Kildare would cost in the region of €80,000.

That's according to Independent Councillor for Kildare-Newbridge MD Pat Balfe.

It comes as the issue of sheep "wandering off" the Curragh was raised by Fianna Fáil Councillor Brian O'Loughlin.

The problem has been specifically highlighted at Brownstown, Knocks Cross, Cutbush and Suncroft.

In the MD, there are 26 cattle grids under the management of Kildare County Council, with €250,000 in capital funding available for their maintenance.

However, there is no funding options for any further grids to be installed.

Cllr Balfe is looking to provide additional cattle grids in the area, through the reallocation of Local Property Tax.

He had submitted motions in the past requesting cattle grids at Brownstown, Ballysax and Lurg Lane.

Balfe said that KCC advised that these locations were investigated, but the proposals were not progressed because of "underground utilities and concerns about potential noise".

Speaking on Kildare Today, he admitted that the issue has been ongoing for too long:

"Sheep are apart of the Curragh and the history, but it has been going on for too long, and the fact there's no funding there to provide more cattle grids.

"The issues that the council have said to me are reasonable responses in terms of underground utilities where they can't put cattle grids down and areas where they're not suitable."

In addition, he remarked that "gardens are being destroyed" due to sheep droppings.

Cllr O'Loughlin had proposed a GPS system of tracking the movement of sheep in the area, with Cllr Balfe describing it as a good idea, but questioned it's practicality.

Cllr Balfe has written to the Defence Department and spoke to KCC about the issues.

The full interview can be heard below:

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