Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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Question 609: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if he will furnish an up-to-date account of his Department's plans to extend the Glasson Canal in towards the village at Glasson; if a feasibility study has been completed in this regard, as was promised in earlier replies to parliamentary questions; his plans in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12076/08]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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I am informed by Waterways Ireland that it has investigated options and methodologies for the extension of the navigation from the River Shannon to Glasson village and that a preferred option has been identified. An Environmental Impact Assessment for the preferred option is now in the final draft stage. Mitigation and compensation measures to address issues recently raised by Shannon Regional Fisheries and the National Wildlife and Parks Service are being prepared for inclusion in the Environmental Impact Assessment report. The Environmental Impact Assessment is a critical part of the planning application, which is in preparation and will be submitted during the Summer 2008.

I might mention also that this project has been included in the proposed Waterways Programme under the National Development Plan 2007–2013.