Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I agree absolutely with the Deputy on the potential for tourism on the waterways. It is only two weeks ago that I was able to announce the start of work on another section of the Ulster Canal. It will move now from Belturbet to Castle Saunderson, which is the first part of the route that will go to Clones. Eventually, I hope the route will go the whole way to Lough Neagh, which would bring the whole waterways system together. There is significant potential for tourism. Waterways Ireland has done a great deal of work on the blue ways. Recently, I was in County Leitrim where a new tow path has been developed as a walking route. There is a great opportunity there for tourism in terms of young people being out. That was the good thing about the extension of the Ulster Canal which will go to the scouting centre in Castle Saunderson. It will bring a whole new dimension to the international scouting centre for young people to engage in water-based activities.

I take the Deputy's point about the need to talk to boat owners and users and I will bring it back to Waterways Ireland to ask if it can engage. I am sure it has been talking to many boat owners, but I will go back again and ask it to set up a line of communication so that boat owners can engage with Waterways Ireland. As the Deputy rightly says, we have a tremendous asset and we must build on it.

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