Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Will the Minister instruct Waterways Ireland to reconsider the feasibility of extending the Erne navigation? I was told in the late 1980s that it was not feasible from an engineering point of view to restore the then Ballinamore-Ballyconnell Canal, which became the Shannon-Erne waterway and has been phenomenally successful, as the Minister is aware. The studies should be revisited on the basis that, given the progress of engineering technology, it may be possible for that stretch of water to be made a navigable continuation of the Shannon-Erne waterway. I appeal to the Minister to ask Waterways Ireland to revisit the issue.

Another issue related to the development of blueways is that Waterways Ireland only has jurisdiction over navigable waterways. The stretch we are discussing is not currently navigable. Therefore, Waterways Ireland would not be responsible for developing the blueway. It would be preferable for it to be the project promoter of a blueway in view of the fact that it is hoped the waterway will be made navigable. I ask the Minister to go back to Waterways Ireland to ask it about the possibility of having the studies revisited and the position in the development of blueways.

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