Eamonn Coghlan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister. When I came into the House today, I had not intended to speak. However, having listened to the impassioned speech made by Senator John Whelan, I decided to make some notes and a contribution to the debate.

We are aware of the historical and cultural significance of inland waterways. The great Irish poet Patrick Kavanagh wrote about canals. I also recall that the Dubliners sang the words, "the ould triangle went jingle jangle along the banks of the Royal Canal". I also know, through my work with Bord Fáilte for many years, how important promoting the wonderful waterways of Ireland has been in attracting tourists. The last cargo traversed the waterways in 1960, but the Dublin-Shannon connector, the Grand Canal, dates all the way back to 1715 when it was first proposed.

My appreciation of the Royal Canal and the Grand Canal stems from the days when I ran along their banks. Waterways Ireland has done a tremendous job, not just in cleaning up the waterways but also in providing bike paths, walkways and runways which are greatly used for recreational purposes. In general, however, the people of Ireland do not appreciate the wonderful waterways that are available. They might gaze at the canal as they ride along in the Luas or they might drive along the canals in their cars, but our waterways are not greatly used to the extent that they deserve to be used.

The reason I have decided to speak is I am appalled by the proposal to increase charges from €150 to €3,500 for use of the waterways. As Senator David Norris indicated, one must move one's barge or boat every five days in order not to be charged the fees that will be introduced. If there was a proposal to increase toll charges on motorways by many hundreds of percentage points, there would be uproar and motorists would be driven onto rural roads. Let us look at the amount that we are now being charged in property tax. It does not make sense that people must pay these charges at a time when we are encouraging them to use the waterways, from a domestic and international tourism perspective. People using waterways should be charged. If services are included, then well and good, but they are not and the charges should not be set at the rates proposed. I, therefore, encourage the Minister to look seriously look at how he proposes to implement the new charges.