Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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Question 6: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if he will provide a progress report on Waterways Ireland's work throughout the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14166/10]

Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)
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Question 26: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the plans Waterways Ireland has to develop tourism along the routes for which they are responsible; the funding for such promotion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14261/10]

Pat Carey (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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Waterways Ireland is the largest of the six cross-Border implementation bodies set up under the British-Irish Agreement of December 1999. Its statutory remit is to manage, maintain, restore and develop the inland navigable waterway system, principally for recreation purposes. The navigations under its remit are the Grand Canal, the Royal Canal, the Barrow navigation, the Shannon navigation, the Shannon-Erne waterway, the Erne system and the Lower Bann navigation. Waterways Ireland has continued to develop all of the waterways under its control and many projects have been completed to facilitate the increasing number of people who utilise the navigations for recreation purposes, such as boating, water sports, fishing, walking, etc.

The body has installed some 10,100 m. of moorings since 2000, thereby increasing the mooring capacity of the waterways by 67%. A major capital project to reconnect the Royal Canal to the Shannon and to reopen the canal to navigation is in its final phase. I am delighted that this programme is now completed and I look forward to the reopening of this historic navigation in due course. Work to progress the Ulster Canal project, which will see the restoration of the section from Upper Lough Erne to Clones, is ongoing.

Finally, Waterways Ireland continues to develop and implement projects under its marketing strategy to promote and support greater awareness and use of the waterways. In 2010, Waterways Ireland will invest more than €1 million in these activities. The investment is spread between joint activities, sponsorship, exhibiting at events and exhibitions, marketing collateral development and distribution, website, education, and press and media activity. Waterways Ireland has also engaged in a joint marketing initiative with Fáilte Ireland, Shannon Development, the Northern Ireland Tourism Board and Fermanagh District Council in promoting a 30 km wide corridor along the Shannon-Erne waterway from Limerick to Belleek.

I am satisfied that Waterways Ireland continues to make very good progress in the light of the available resources in discharging its responsibilities to manage and maintain our inland navigation network for tourism and recreational purposes.

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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We are hoping to have representatives of Waterways Ireland appear before the Dáil committee. We have written to the organisation and I am anxious that its representatives attend a committee meeting shortly to discuss the issues being dealt with by the body.

There was a problem between the staff and Waterways Ireland which went to the High Court. Has that case been settled or is it still going through the courts? What is the position? Waterways Ireland has a budget of approximately €34 million, which is not a small amount of money. Last year, it spent €2.3 million on overtime and allowances, which is more than was spent on overtime and allowances in the Minister's Department.

Given the serious problems with flooding this year, what are Waterways Ireland's priorities for dealing with some of the problems that arose? Farmers in the midlands are concerned that Waterways Ireland is not doing enough to alleviate flooding. There was a very serious problem last year, so what will the body do this year to deal with the problems? What part of the budget will be spent on that? What will the Minister do about the €2.3 million spent on overtime and allowances? It is a great deal of money to spend on overtime and allowances in the current climate.

Pat Carey (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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On the first question, the recent action taken by a senior civil servant against Waterways Ireland and the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure on alleged mismanagement was settled in the High Court. The settlement was for a sum of £50,000 plus costs, without admission of liability, shared equally at 50% each between the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure and Waterways Ireland. I am satisfied that the difficulties which Waterways Ireland experienced have been addressed and are behind it.

I will have to refer back to the Deputy about the overtime issue because I do not have the details to give him a comprehensive response. With regard to the flooding, Waterways Ireland's work at the end of last year also included an unexpected element when Ireland experienced the highest level of flood water on record. Although Waterways Ireland is not responsible for the water levels on the navigations, the organisation strived to minimise the damage to property and assisted where possible, often involving its team working in hazardous conditions. I will seek a more detailed response from Waterways Ireland on the matter and refer back to the Deputy as soon as possible on it.

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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With regard to the settlement of £50,000, will there be further legal proceedings on this very serious issue or is that the end of the matter? This has cost Waterways Ireland a great deal of money. I do not know what the legal costs were but there were other payments made in the past. Are further legal proceedings due to take place? We will be returning to this matter at a later stage.

Pat Carey (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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There is no indication in the information available to me that there are any further proceedings pending. I will have that checked for the Deputy.

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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That is fine. We can return to it at a later date.

Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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The waterways in south Kildare are the Barrow and the canal. However, I do not see their value in terms of the number of boats on those waterways. My concern is that we have wonderful waterways but we do not seem to get the number of tourists to match the amount of money put into them. In England and the Continent there appears to be far greater use of barges and boats on their waterways than is the case here. A survey in Athy found there were 65 boat owners in the area, but one never sees 65 boats on the waterways.

The Minister spoke about sponsorship and mentioned €1 million. I am not sure if he meant that was the total expenditure, but perhaps he would send me a breakdown of that expenditure in terms of working with other groups. In a recent parliamentary question I received a reply about sponsorship by Waterways Ireland but perhaps there was other sponsorship or dual funding that was provided to other areas. What can be done to generate more interest in the waterways? Does Waterways Ireland have a link with Fáilte Ireland to generate more interest and encourage more boats on the waterways or is there too much cost involved? It is a wonderful facility and there are wonderful walks along the waterways but we do not appear to benefit from them.

Pat Carey (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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I have always believed our waterways are very under-utilised resources. Waterways Ireland has engaged in joint marketing initiatives with Fáilte Ireland, Shannon Development, Northern Ireland Tourist Board and, as I mentioned earlier, Fermanagh District Council. There are probably other local marketing initiatives as well. I will find out more for the Deputy about the sponsorship. It is mentioned in the briefing material but there is no breakdown.

Since Waterways Ireland was established, the number of boats registered has more than doubled from 5,544 in 2000 to 12,344 in 2009, which shows there is great interest in the waterways. Anecdotally, there is an increase in the usage of the waterways but it is far less than occurs in our neighbouring country. A visit to that country shows the progress there.

Waterways Ireland has won many awards and nominations since its establishment, including, most recently, achieving the status of Ability Company in two categories in the prestigious O2 Ability Awards 2010. In my role as Minister with responsibility for equality, I am delighted that an organisation under my Department's remit has succeeded in achieving such prestigious status and I compliment the staff in Waterways Ireland on making that possible. It has also won a sustainability award from the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors for its headquarters and the award for best marina development for Boyle marina in County Roscommon. The Minister of State and I will be investigating the potential for further development of the tourism potential of these waterways and canals. We will work with our colleague in Government, the Minister, Deputy Mary Hanafin, in that regard.

Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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There is a dry dock in Athy and the local waterways group has sought to have a cover erected over it so the facility can be used all year round. However, it has been unable to secure the goodwill of Waterways Ireland to do it. Perhaps the Minister might investigate and let me know the position with it at present. The group made an application to Waterways Ireland to have the work done. I will send the Minister a note about it.

Pat Carey (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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There was a note in the file about it when I read it last night, and I knew Deputy Wall would ask about it but I cannot find it at present.

Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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The Minister was correct.

Pat Carey (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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I will refer back to the Deputy.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Déanaim chomhghairdeas leis an Aire as an ardú céime. Ba mhaith liom ceist a chur faoin chanáil ó Harold's Cross chomh fada le Blackhorse Bridge. Cénuair a dhéanfar uasghrádú air? I refer to upgrading on the stretch between Harold's Cross and Blackhorse Bridge in Inchicore-Bluebell. We know the stretch from Bluebell up to Clondalkin is undergoing works at present and a cycleway and walkway will open later this year but that area has never had an upgrade whereas all the rest of Dublin has. Is there co-ordination with Dublin City Council and Luas in regard to the lighting along that stretch, which is covered by Waterways Ireland, considering the anti-social behaviour associated with the Luas stops? There is a further question in regard to a new steel bridge which was built across the canal during the Luas works and which is not wheelchair accessible from Davitt Road and Inchicore.

Pat Carey (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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I will have to come back to Deputy Ó Snodaigh with that detail. While I have plenty of general information, I cannot find the specific information he seeks. I will arrange to have it provided to the Deputy.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Go raibh maith agat.