Sandra McLellan (Cork East, Sinn Fein)

The Ulster Canal project holds enormous potential to open up the central Border area, which has experienced economic disadvantage for many years due to effects from its location. The potential positive impact on all the towns and villages in the canal corridor would lead to significant regeneration and benefits due to increased tourism, business development and prosperity in general, not to mention the many construction and ancillary jobs that would be created.

Does the Minister of State agree that this project can return major social, economic and peace dividends? I appreciate that 2007 was a very different time to now, economically speaking, but the merits of the project stand. Does the Minister of State agree that a large amount of preparatory work has already gone into the project, including feasibility and socio-economic studies, as well as extensive community and stakeholder consultation, to bring it to its current position? Will the Minister of State give a commitment that this project is a priority in light of the economic, social and peace dividend, and in light of existing evidence that such amenities provide a substantial boost for local economies? Is there potential for other canals to be taken in charge by Waterways Ireland?

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