Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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549. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the position regarding the restoration of the Ulster Canal; the funding provided in her Department's Estimates in 2016 for this project and the likely expenditure; when this project will proceed to the next stage; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22890/16]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Government approval to restore a 2.5km stretch of the Ulster Canal from the Shannon-Erne Waterway to the International Scout Centre at Castle Saunderson, Co. Cavan was granted on 24 February 2015. The project, which comprises three work phases, is being undertaken by Waterways Ireland, who have an allocation of €2.7 for the project in 2016.

Phase 1, the site investigation work, has been completed. Phase 2, dredging of the River Finn, is in progress. This phase of the works was delayed due to a contractual dispute and I have been informed by Waterways Ireland that it expects work to remove the dredged material from the site at Derrykerrib to commence in late August 2016. Waterways Ireland expects to tender for the final phase of the project in 2016 with works to commence on site in spring 2017 when water levels permit access.