Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I will speak to Waterways Ireland about this issue. Studies were carried out in 2008 and 2009 when the strategic environmental assessment was completed. It became clear in the initial gathering of information that the changes in water levels necessary to create navigation would be unacceptable in the proposed area in view of its level of international conservation designations. The lough has several international conservation designations, including being a candidate for a special area of conservation, a special protection area, a proposed natural heritage area, a Ramsar site and a Natura 2000 site. There are several national and local monuments and sites of historical and archaeological interest in the Lough Oughter area. The initial work also identified the costs associated with completing the studies to which I alluded in my original statement and which would be required for the strategic environmental assessment to be carried out. No further studies have been carried out, which has raised such a level of concern for the National Parks and Wildlife Service and the Northern Ireland Environment Agency.

See this speech in context