Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein)
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On the maintenance of the waterway itself, some years ago there was a problem with water levels. I was in contact with one of Waterways Ireland’s regional staff who was helpful and they solved it. There was water running off and the levels were dropping below that required in the summer to navigate it. That was done and I wanted to acknowledge that. When Monasterevin was in the constituency that I am in, there was a problem with a roadway there. I was in contact with one of Waterways Ireland’s staff. It was a short roadway leading into a dwelling along the bank of the canal. The staff member helpfully resolved that issue. However, an issue that keeps arising is that of weeds on that stretch of the canal between Monasterevin, the part that runs through Laois, across north Laois and down to Athy. What maintenance plan is there? Occasionally one would see a machine parked up there. It is the boat with the harvester on it. Is there an annual maintenance plan or anything Waterways Ireland can do to improve that? People are saying to me that they cannot navigate it because the weeds are catching in the propellers.