Seymour Crawford (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Question 498: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the progress regarding a stretch of the Ulster Canal from Lough Erne to Clones; if and when design work will commence; when he expects actual rebuilding will take place; the number of years it will take to complete; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4623/04]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy will be aware one of the functions of Waterways Ireland, a North-South Implementation body established under the British-Irish Agreement Act 1999, is to examine the possible restoration of the Ulster Canal. A study was commissioned which estimated the cost of the restoration of the full canal at approximately £90 million sterling based on 2000 costs.

At this time, no decision has been taken to proceed with the restoration of the canal, which is an issue not only for me but also for the responsible Minister in the North. The question of how to address the issues arising in regard to the canal, including the question of whether a phased or partial approach to the matter might be feasible, falls to be considered in that context.