Marcella Corcoran Kennedy (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I apologise as I am going to break the Chairman's request to refer to a wonderful film that was made on the Grand Canal under the Per Cent for Art scheme. I wish to take the opportunity to let people know about it today, particularly those who will not get to go on the canal. The film was shot along the waterway from Shannon Harbour to Edenderry in 2012. As part of the scheme, three Offaly artists used a journey along the canal to inspire new creative work. This is a wonderful advertisement for using the Grand Canal. I attended the launch in the head office of Waterways Ireland.

I have a number of questions I would like to ask the representatives of Waterways Ireland. The first concerns the winter mooring permit. Are there plans to introduce a winter mooring permit for the canals and Barrow similar to that for the Shannon?

I was raised in west Offaly and am very familiar with the Belmont-Shannon Harbour area. I am very conscious of the difficulties being experienced in Shannon Harbour owing to old, rotting boats, etc. Does Waterways Ireland intend to explore the possibility of changing the terms and conditions for houseboats? One can see the difficulties that the current terms and conditions have caused in the area. Does Waterways Ireland intend to change the approach in this regard?

What does Waterways Ireland regard as an obstacle to the development of the canals and Barrow navigation? What are the expected social and economic benefits of the suggested visitors' permit? What will be the impact be on communities adjacent to the waterways? With regard to Waterways Ireland's promotion of the canal and the Barrow, what is the approach in respect of navigation?