Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The permits allow a person to travel the canal on their boat. The licences are for long-term parking or mooring. We need to have a formal system for the benefit of all users and to protect people who are using the canals.

The permit system currently in operation to authorise the use and regulation of boats on the canals will continue but a licence is required under existing by-laws where the water is extracted from the canals, other than for cooling of the engines of boats and for the discharge of any water into the canals. The permit is a permission to use the canal network. However, the extended mooring permit, EMP, allowing a boat to permanently moor or berth in one allocated mooring for up to one year requires a licence and evidence of third party public liability insurance for both. The licences will be more stringent. They will help terms of people not abusing the fact that they do or do not have a permit and will provide much-needed regulation in this area.