Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
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150. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will provide an update on proposals to increase charges for use of facilities on the Grand Canal and Royal Canal; if further consultation with stakeholders will be held prior to any decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10245/14]

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will be aware Waterways Ireland undertook a statutory public consultation process on the proposed bye-laws which closed on the 3rd of February. The proposed bye-laws are intended to support the investment already made by Waterways Ireland in new infrastructure and facilities along the Royal and Grand Canals and on the Barrow system. The objective is to enhance Waterways Ireland’s ability to manage, care for and maintain these waterways. This will help to develop them as a vibrant recreational and tourist amenity for all waterway users.

The proposed new bye-laws provide for the management of house boats, defined as a boat on the canals which is being used as the sole or principal residence of the owner or an occupant with the owner’s permission, as well as for extended moorings and residential moorings. An Annual Houseboat Mooring Permit will be required for a houseboat not navigating or continuously cruising the canals. The permit will allow the use of a mooring identified by Waterways Ireland on the canals where the houseboat may moor for more than five days and up to one year.

The proposed bye-laws will also modernise the charging regime. There will also be further provision for the care, management, maintenance and control and the regulation of the use of the canals, moorings on the canals, and their use by the public for recreation and navigation purposes.

I am advised that all submissions received during the consultation process on the draft bye-laws will be given due consideration by Waterways Ireland, following which a report on the outcome of the process will be prepared. That report will be forwarded to my Department and will then be referred to me, with recommendations for consideration and final decision. As I indicated in response to a debate in Seanad Éireann yesterday, I will afford interested Deputies and Senators an opportunity to discuss the proposals with me prior to making the final decision.