Joe Flaherty (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I wish to make a clarification in case it is thought I do not understand or appreciate the great work Waterways Ireland does. Obviously, in my constituency, we see the ongoing restoration of the Royal Canal, the transformation and development of Richmond harbour in Cloondara and the ongoing development and integration of boating and recreational facilities at Abbeyshrule, as well as the planned water-based attraction at the Red Bridge, Ballymahon. All of those are to be commended.

However - and this has probably been referenced already - Leitrim County Council passed two notices of motions yesterday and directed the council to contact two senior Ministers in relation to Waterways Ireland and its by-laws. The council has asked the Minister for housing, Deputy O'Brien, to halt the implementation of Waterways Ireland's new by-laws which herald the introduction of new charges and regulations that will have a detrimental impact on cruiser traffic on the River Shannon. It says traffic is down by 50% this year. It is not just my view; it is the view of people looking at and living on the river and those who are dependent on the river for a livelihood. The council has also sent a similar notice of motion to the Minister for tourism, Deputy Martin.

I welcome the intervention of the Department which has asked Waterways Ireland to look again at the cost. It is fair to say its by-laws should not go back unless the costings are tweaked. I am heartened by the fact that Waterways Ireland has come to the Oireachtas so often to discuss this matter. I understand there are some informal discussions under way and I hope it can engage with boat owners on this specific point.

Mr. Rowe said there has been an increase from 6,000 to 9,000 in the number of private boat users. Using the €200 model, that is €1.8 million per year, which is significant coin in any man's language. It is probably excessive at a time when there is a legitimate concern that the use of the River Shannon is in decline, notwithstanding Mr. Rowe's statistics with regard to private boat users. There is a middle ground in relation to the charge, which is probably €100. The boating community would certainly be able to live with that. As I said, Waterways Ireland has been fulsome in the consultation process and it has done everything it needs to do to engage with the boating community.

In its online survey, 82 of the respondents said they strongly disagreed with the annual registration fee of €200. That is 62%. For both the Cathaoirleach and I, if we were getting a 62% approval rate, we would be very happy with that. Therefore, the users of a service are telling Waterways Ireland they are not happy with a €200 charge. If there is a take-away from this, it is that Waterways Ireland is proposing a lot of good things and there is a lot of good things in the by-laws - boat users on the River Shannon will say that - but the one that is going to be a catalyst for anger and which is causing a large amount of disquiet and concern is that €200 charge. I hope there can be engagement with those boat users and that Waterways Ireland will engage with them on the proposals they have put forward. If we can hit on that major figure of €100 annual charges, everyone would be sásta ar fad.