Frank Feighan (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The development of the Shannon-Erne waterway has been one of the unsung benefits of the Good Friday Agreement. It is a flagship cross-Border project which involved the major reconstruction of many canal structures to make them suitable for modern cruisers. The canal was opened to traffic on 23 May 1994 on time and within budget. Since that time, the link has opened thousands of miles of navigable waterways in both the Republic and Northern Ireland. It links the two great waterways on our island, namely, the Erne system and the Shannon navigation. As Waterways Ireland states on its website, the waterway has opened up countryside which few had ever seen.

Over the past few decades, this tranquil stretch of water has grown in popularity, in particular in the towns and villages along its length. One can travel by boat now from Limerick to Enniskillen. The beauty of this waterway system is incredible and must be seen to be believed. Unsurprisingly, it has become a major attraction for both domestic tourists and visitors from all corners of the world. It has also been of significant benefit to local economies along the route as tourists stop off at towns and villages while cruising the waterways. A number of boat hire companies have also been created over the years offering barges and cruisers for weekend trips or week-long journeys. Walking and bike trails have also been developed along the route of the waterways.

There has been some concern in recent times at the introduction of restricted lock opening times on the Shannon-Erne canal system. Since the canal system was reopened in 1994, the automated locks have been operational between 9 a.m. and 8 p.m. from April to the end of October. This year, however, Waterways Ireland restricted the operating times from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. until 16 May. A number of local people have contacted my office to tell me this restriction will also apply from mid-September to the end of October. Of course, any restrictions will have a knock-on effect on the towns and villages which benefit from the waterways. Waterways Ireland must do all it can to ensure the waterways system is marketed to the fullest extent to ensure these towns and villages have the opportunity to maximise its benefits. This includes ensuring maximum access to the water for tourists and boating enthusiasts to maximise traffic potential. I am also interested to know what Waterways Ireland’s targets are in this regard.