Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 373: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the extent to which his Department is prepared to assist tourism projects on inland waterways; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9463/05]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy will be aware, Waterways Ireland, which the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs co-sponsors, is a North-South Implementation Body established under the British-Irish Agreement Act 1999. It has responsibility for the management, maintenance and development of inland waterways principally for recreational purposes.

The inland waterways provide an important tourist attraction in their own right. Waterways Ireland supports the tourism potential of the waterways by promoting through its marketing and promotion strategy, the increased use of inland waterways in accordance with its mandate.

My Department's grant to Waterways Ireland for 2005 is €33.216 million.