Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)

I cannot give the Deputy information on the second question but if he gives me details of the properties involved, I will certainly follow up the matter or ask Waterways Ireland to give me details of any disused properties and its policy in regard to them. The Deputy will be aware, because we had to introduce emergency legislation, that I am very concerned the State should protect its assets from dereliction and so on.

All of the North-South bodies faced a difficult time over the past few years because of the changing political situation in Northern Ireland. That said, I am happy considerable progress has been made, particularly this year, in resolving many issues and progressing various projects. Some of the delays in relation to capital projects were outside the remit of the body. Those within its remit they got on with. The Royal Canal, for example, is progressing satisfactorily.

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