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

In terms of North-South co-operation, a provision of more than €40 million has been made available to support the two North-South implementation bodies, An Foras Teanga, which comprises Foras na Gaeilge and the Ulster-Scots Agency, and Waterways Ireland. These allocations are also subject to the approval of the North-South Ministerial Council.

In respect of Waterways Ireland, the overall allocation for 2019 is increased by more than €1 million to just over €25.1 million. More than 90% of the waterways remained open during the 2019 boating season. The programme of towpath redevelopment along 140 km of the Royal Canal continued throughout the year, as did work to extend navigation on the Ulster Canal from upper Lough Erne to Castle Saunderson with the completion of a bypass canal channel and new bridge at Derrykerrib. Waterways Ireland successfully hosted the World Canals Conference 2018 in Athlone with 320 delegates attending from 12 countries, 48 speakers, and seven tours taking in 11 counties and five navigations.