Mr. ?anna Rowe:

Waterways Ireland is fully in agreement with the Deputy. It is looking to provide proper supports for houseboat communities. It is fully in agreement with that. Waterways Ireland wishes to see our canals in particular become living, breathing waterways that cater for everybody.

As for the Grand Canal greenway and the Barrow blueway that the Deputy mentioned in his own county, Waterways Ireland will start, after the construction phase is completed with its colleagues in the local authorities, an animation and interpretation of the greenway and blueways. As the Deputy rightly pointed out, they are not linear corridors. There are things to do and see along and adjacent to them and that is really important. Also, softer product requirements such as bicycle stands, picnic areas, seating, interpretation and points of interests will be developed along the greenways. Waterways Ireland is proud of the 600 km of greenway and blueway that it has developed. In the development of the Royal Canal greenway, which is still just about the longest greenway in Ireland at 120 km, it has proven to be an absolute gem by way of recreational opportunities and economic return to the communities that live along it.

People question why Waterways Ireland develops greenways when it is a navigation authority. The reason is that it is our ambition, when people walk or cycle along the waterway, that they might then decide to kayak along the waterway too. When they kayak, they may decide to hire a boat, and when they hire a boat, they may then decide they would like to buy a boat. It is in our interest to get as many people as possible interested in not only the navigations themselves, but the ancillary services Waterways Ireland can provide.