Written answers

Tuesday, 6 October 2009

Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs

Inland Waterways

9:00 pm

Photo of Kathleen LynchKathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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Question 142: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if he has had or proposes to have meetings with Waterways Ireland as to funding or budgetary matters regarding improvements to the canals within their remit to provide better facilities for users of the canals from a tourist as well as local perspective with special emphasis on moorings or marinas, angling or walking facilities or other facility within the remit of the agency in view of the present economic climate; the funding requested; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34203/09]

Photo of Denis NaughtenDenis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 158: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs when he last held a meeting with the chief executive of Waterways Ireland; the agenda for the meeting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33469/09]

Photo of Éamon Ó CuívÉamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions 142 and 158 together.

I meet with the Chief Executive of Waterways Ireland on a regular basis. At our most recent meeting on 27 July 2009, we discussed progress by the organisation to date in 2009.

As the Deputies will be aware, Waterways Ireland has made considerable progress in recent years. During 2008, the ongoing upgrading of the waterways saw a total of 581 metres of additional moorings completed, with the maintenance programme keeping 95% of all navigable waterways open, as planned, for recreational activity. Maintenance projects included: · continuance of the dredging programme on the Grand Canal to restore the canal to its navigable depth; · the completion of dredging on 3,200 metres of the Barrow line between Vicarstown and Courtwood in Co. Laois and on a further 1,300 metres of the Main Line dredged between Plunkett and Derries Bridges adjacent to Pollagh Co. Offaly; and · the upgrading of stone jetties on the Barrow navigation, with 300 metres of bank protection works and trackway widening between Carlow and Bestfield Lock and the installation of new lock gates.

Achievements this year on the development of the waterways include: · completion of 79 metres of additional moorings; · completion of the construction of the final bridge at Lyneen to reconnect the Royal Canal to the Shannon; and · progress on the restoration of the Ulster Canal with the preliminary stages of the design process well underway.

I also had preliminary discussions with the Chief Executive regarding Waterways Ireland's proposed capital programme and financial provision for 2010. The precise scale of works to be carried out in 2010 to improve services and facilities along the navigation and the associated funding to be made available will be set out in Waterway's Ireland's Business Plan for 2010, which is currently being prepared, and which will be submitted for approval to the North/South Ministerial Council in due course.

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