Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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204. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if Brexit will have any direct implications for the completion of the Ulster Canal project; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38228/16]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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One of my main priorities since taking Ministerial office has been the restoration of the Ulster Canal. I secured Government approval to restore a 2.5 km stretch of the Ulster Canal from the Shannon-Erne Waterway to the International Scout Centre at Castle Saunderson, Co Cavan on 24th February 2015.

The work to reopen this stretch of the Ulster Canal continues to progress. Waterways Ireland has informed me that the tender for the final stage of works, the construction of Derrykerrib Bridge, issued on 27th October with a submissions deadline of 12th December 2016. Subject to a successful tender and award process, it is proposed that works would start on site in 2017 with an anticipated 18 month contract period.

The outcome of the UK referendum will not have direct implications for the Ulster Canal project in the short term. There could potentially be implications in the longer term as Waterways Ireland has benefitted from EU structural funds in the past and, before the Brexit outcome, could potentially have developed such proposals in the future. Also, there is still considerable uncertainty regarding both the terms of the UK’s withdrawal from the EU and the nature of its future relationship with Ireland and the rest of the EU. My Department will be keeping these matters under very close review.