Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Thursday, 4 July 2024

Public Accounts Committee

Financial Statements 2022: Waterways Ireland

9:30 am

Photo of Marc Ó CathasaighMarc Ó Cathasaigh (Waterford, Green Party)
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Has Waterways Ireland undertaken any sort of study on the potential carrying capacity for people who could live on canals? These are delicate networks from the point of view of pollution, etc. We are in the middle of a housing crisis, so I am thinking about a single person or a two-person family. These are potential solutions. I do not think this is kooky. I do not think it is crazy. In Manchester, London and Birmingham, many people live very comfortably on canals. It can be quite suitable for a small family, an older couple, etc. Has any research been done on the potential carrying capacity? Given that we are in the middle of a housing crisis, has there been an investigation into whether there is capacity to provide more housing units on our canals?