Malcolm Noonan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for asking this question. He and I were both present at the launch of Waterways Ireland's ten-year strategy down the street from Leinster House. It presents very exciting opportunities, including, as the Deputy said, regarding the potential for our navigable waterways to be economic drivers in rural communities in particular.

The navigation to Lough Allen through the Lough Allen canal was restored and reopened in 1994. Since then, Waterways Ireland has developed and maintained facilities for boats at a number of key locations, including significant marina developments at both Cleighran More and Drumshanbo, along with harbour facilities at Spencer Harbour. Waterways Ireland has obtained planning permission for the development of a boat slipway at Spencer Harbour. This project is due to commence in 2024 and will complement the harbour as a boating amenity and provide enhanced access to Lough Allen. Waterways Ireland is actively examining initiatives to further enhance Lough Allen and the surrounding communities in line with the strategic initiatives outlined in the Shannon tourism master plan, including to establish discovery points similar to those along the Wild Atlantic Way, the River Shannon and the Shannon-Erne waterway.

Regarding the extension of the navigation up the River Dowra, I am advised that Waterways Ireland, having been unsuccessful in obtaining planning permission more than ten years ago, has established a team to re-examine the possibility of extending the navigation toward the village of Dowra. A tender package is being prepared to engage ecological consultants to complete a new environmental impact assessment of the project. This study and the accompanying proposed preliminary engineering design will be progressed in parallel throughout 2024. It could potentially be a very positive project, but again it is in a process now.

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