Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
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149. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the basis on which he decided to scrap the Naomh Éanna ship which is the oldest surviving commercial ship; the reason he did not provide an opportunity to publicly consult with those who are part of the Save Our Ship Campaign or other persons and address their issues and ideas on the action that could be taken to restore it; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10117/14]

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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I wish first of all to point out to the Deputy that the decision to dispose of the Naomh Éanna was not taken by me but by its owners, the Irish Nautical Trust. The Naomh Éanna has been moored at Grand Canal Dock since 1989 when it was found to no longer meet health and safety requirements to operate as a passenger-carrying vessel. Unfortunately, the ship has deteriorated substantially in the past 20 years and presents a real risk in the Grand Canal Basin, in the heart of Dublin's Docklands. In April 2013, a report on the hull condition of the vessel, commissioned by its owners, highlighted serious safety concerns. Based on the report’s findings, the Irish Nautical Trust issued a ‘Notice to Vacate ’ to both of the businesses that had been operating from the vessel.

I am advised that very significant investment would be required to preserve the already unstable hull of the vessel and to bring the vessel to the point where it would be safe and insurable. I am further advised that the vessel's owners do not have the financial resources to deal with these issues.

In the circumstances, Waterways Ireland offered to arrange for the removal and disposal of the ship on behalf of the Irish Nautical Trust. Waterways Ireland made this offer as the property owners of the Grand Canal Dock because of the continuing serious risk posed by the condition of the Naomh Éanna, the disruption and expense that would be involved were it to sink in the Grand Canal Dock and the absence of any firm indication that the very significant level finance required to make it safe and insurable was potentially available. The Irish Nautical Trust accepted the offer and confirmed its approval to Waterways Ireland to dispose of the vessel on its behalf.

The Deputy will appreciate that as the vessel is not in the ownership of my Department or Waterways Ireland, it would not be appropriate for me to provide an opportunity to publicly consult with groups and individuals to address their issues and ideas on the action that could be taken to restore the vessel. However, as I advised the Seanad on 26^th February, interested individuals or groups who wish to restore the vessel now have until 31^st March to come up with a realistic proposal. Any such proposal would have to be based on a credible, definitive business plan with access to the required finance. In that regard, I must re-iterate that there is no question of State funding being made available, nor in view of the serious safety issues posed by the Naomh Éanna will it be feasible to delay action to deal with those issues beyond that timeframe.