Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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Question 119: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if he will give a date for the opening of the Royal Canal from Dublin right through to the River Shannon due to the fact that this is important in the context of allowing amenity groups along the length of the canal that wish to prepare for the said opening to be in a position to make the appropriate preparations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4448/10]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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I am advised by Waterways Ireland that considerable progress has been made on the re-opening of the Royal Canal. The major bridge programme has been completed, refurbishment works at Clondra are practically completed and necessary dredging in Dublin is well underway. There are still a small number of outstanding issues to be finalised. These include: · the completion of commissioning of the re-watered section of the Canal;

· completion of an agreement with Iarnród Éireann on the operating management plan for Newcomen Railway Bridge; and

· finalisation of water supply issues in partnership with Westmeath County Council.

The precise date of the re-opening will depend on completion of these works and I hope to be in a position to make an announcement in that regard later this year.