Damien English (Meath, Fine Gael)
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Question 439: To ask the Minister for Transport if he will provide a progress report on the use of jet skis at Lough Lene and Lough Derravaragh in County Westmeath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26353/06]

Pat Gallagher (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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Under the Maritime Safety Act 2005 local authorities have been given the necessary powers to control the operation of jet skis and other fast powered craft in their functional areas.

The framework for regulating such craft came from the 2000 Report of the Action Group on Small Powered Recreational Craft (including personal watercraft) which concluded that the primary public policy response should be the use of local bye-laws. Conditions and issues vary in different parts of the country and it makes sense that those closest and with local knowledge regulate for the particular circumstances.

Section 6 of the Maritime Safety Act 2005, provides that bye-laws may be made regulating or controlling the operation of craft or specified craft, including jet skis, by local authorities in waters in their functional areas, harbour authorities and Waterways Ireland in waters under their control or management. The bye-laws can be used to prohibit or restrict in specified waters or at specified times/periods the use of such craft, for the purposes of, amongst other things, preventing nuisance to persons.

The Maritime Safety Directorate of my Department has issued guidelines to the relevant authorities, including Westmeath County Council, on the powers available to them to regulate craft under the 2005 Act.