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

Based on a presentation by Waterways Ireland at a meeting of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement, I gather that there is a need to expand its capital budget. Thankfully, usage of waterway facilities is significant. There is a need for ongoing maintenance and improvement of facilities that are being used and that attract great numbers of visitors to our country. I understand that the budget last year for capital programmes was €7.8 million, of which €2.6 million was from Waterways Ireland's resources. It is a small capital budget for such a vast area of State property so there is an urgent need to increase the capital funding available and ensure that necessary maintenance and upgrading of facilities are carried out to make sure our waterways continue to be a prime tourist attraction.

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