Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 12: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs his views on the reported increase in drinking and anti-social behaviour along canals and waterways; the effect such drinking and anti-social behaviour is having on the use of these facilities as walkways and leisure facilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18817/08]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

My Department is jointly responsible with the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure in Northern Ireland for Waterways Ireland, a North/South Implementation Body set up under the British-Irish Agreement in 1999. Waterways Ireland has responsibility for the management, maintenance, development and restoration of certain inland navigable waterways principally for recreational purposes. The waterways under the remit of the Body are the Shannon-Erne Waterway, the Shannon, the Erne, the Grand Canal (including the Barrow Navigation), the Lower Bann and the Royal Canal.

Waterways Ireland informs me that if any of its staff encounters incidents of drinking and anti-social behaviour at any location on the canals or other waterways in this jurisdiction, the matter is reported immediately to the local Garda Síochána, who are empowered to enforce the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act 1994 and the relevant legislation under the Intoxicating Liquor Acts.

While Waterways Ireland recognises that such anti-social activity may impact adversely on the environment and on other users of the waterways, the Deputy will appreciate that issues of law enforcement are a matter for the Garda Síochána.