Dinny McGinley (Donegal South West, Fine Gael)

I agree with the Deputy's comments that completion of this project would bring great economic benefit to the area. It is an almost unique area in the country, with Fermanagh being the county of islands and lakes. I drove along the Erne last Sunday and returned in a happier mood with Donegal having won the Ulster football title. The countryside looked even better on the return journey. I went into a hotel on the banks of Lough Erne and saw the boats on the lake. Completion of the project would bring great benefits, as tourist activities such as boating are popular these days. People wax lyrical about the canals in France and elsewhere but we have our own set in beautiful countryside.

This is a North-South project to which we are committed. I am sure the Deputy would agree that the process has not come to a halt as we are preparing to go for planning permission. The process is moving along but we must be mindful of the economic and financial constraints to which we are subject. Nothing would give me greater pleasure than moving the project on. I know the Minister is very interested in this because it was discussed about a fortnight ago in Armagh at the North-South ministerial gathering. This is on the agenda and has not been put on the long finger. The project will go for planning and I am confident we will see it completed, although I am not able to give a definite date for the Deputy. I know how interested Deputies are in it.

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