Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
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597. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will make the use of canals and waterways more accessible to boat owners and operators; and her views that these waterways are being utilised to the fullest, in terms of recreational and tourism potential. [44993/15]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Waterways Ireland is a North South Implementation Body co-sponsored and co-funded by my Department and the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure in Northern Ireland. It is responsible for managing, maintaining, developing and promoting over 1000km of inland navigable waterways, principally for recreational purposes.

Since its establishment in 2000, Waterways Ireland has been active in progressing the development of the recreational infrastructure of the waterways and this has resulted in major improvements that include the construction of new harbours, the provision of an additional 13km of public moorings, extended on-shore services and the creation of new waterway destinations. Registered boat numbers over this time have increased by more than 50% to a total of 14,690 in 2014.

More than €50m has been invested by Waterways Ireland in reopening the Royal Canal and work continues across the Royal, Grand and Barrow Canals to expand their use as invaluable outdoor recreational corridors through the development of Blueways. These are recreational trails on or beside water for walking, cycling, fishing, boating and canoeing. The development of Blueways creates new recreational opportunities for local communities as well as attracting visitors to rural areas where the waterways are an integral part of the community and local businesses. The first Blueway, which was developed on the North Shannon last year, attracted over 100,000 people in 2015.

Waterways Ireland is also engaged in works to restore the Ulster Canal from the Shannon-Erne Waterway to the International Scout Centre at Castle Saunderson, near Belturbet in Co. Cavan. This project has the potential to act as a catalyst for the regeneration of this border area. It will also provide a wonderful recreational facility for local communities and should act as a significant draw for tourists.

Waterways Ireland engages in a wide range of marketing and promotional activity for the inland waterways. For example, early in 2015, in support of the Irish Chartered Boat Rental Association, assistance with targeted marketing support was undertaken in key overseas markets in partnership with Fáilte Éireann and Tourism Ireland. Waterways Ireland also operates the Lakelands and Inland Waterways marketing programme in partnership with Fáilte Éireann and relevant local authorities.

Waterways Ireland has an ongoing programme to utilise disused built heritage assets for new recreational purposes. The 27th lock house in Tullamore, for example, is being developed by the local canoe club as a base to support its activities. New businesses providing recreational activities on the waterways are also supported by licensing the use of Waterways Ireland property to help them become established.

I can assure the Deputy that Waterways Ireland is intent on continuing to create opportunities to increase the use of these valuable public assets for all kinds of recreational and tourism activities and to this end it will continue to work in partnership with all relevant stakeholders, including local communities, to maximise the economic, social and recreational potential of the waterways.