Brendan Griffin (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
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224. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her views on developing blueways; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7531/15]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Waterways Ireland is currently pioneering the development and promotion of Blueways on the inland navigations which it manages.

Having formulated design specifications and standards with the National Trails Office in 2012/2013 for the development of Small Vessel Trails, and having adopted the design standards for the development of walking and cycle trails, Waterways Ireland, together with Leitrim County Council and with support from the rural recreation division of the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government, developed Ireland's first multi-activity inland Blueway, the Shannon Blueway.

In addition, Waterways Ireland, in cooperation with the National Trails Office and Canoeing Ireland, also formulated a classification and grading standard, as well as a signage and branding standard for Blueways.