Willie Penrose (Westmeath, Labour)
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Question 260: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if a feasibility study has been undertaken by his Department in relation to the reopening of the Glasson Canal adjacent to Glasson Village, Athlone, County Westmeath; if so the results of same; if it is proposed to take steps to promote the reopening of this stretch of canal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33304/06]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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Waterways Ireland informed me that it is continuing to investigate the feasibility of constructing a new waterway link between Glasson Village and Killinure Lough which leads into Lough Ree. To this end Waterways Ireland has now commissioned an Environmental Impact Assessment, the results of which are anticipated by Summer 2007.

Any future steps in the matter will depend, inter alia, on the outcome of this assessment and on the outcome of the deliberations on the next National Development Plan (2007 — 2013). The Deputy will appreciate that I am not in a position to pre-empt the content of the Plan or make any public comment on specific projects which might fall for consideration at this stage.