Imelda Munster (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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269. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the expected cost, the number of years it would take to deliver and the amount allocated for the Ulster Canal Project. [53345/17]

Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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In July 2007, the North South Ministerial Council (NSMC) agreed to a proposal to restore the section of the Ulster Canal from Upper Lough Erne to Clones.  Planning approvals for the project have been secured from the relevant authorities in the two jurisdictions.

Government approval to restore a 2.5 km stretch of the Ulster Canal from Upper Lough Erne to the International Scout Centre at Castle Saunderson near Belturbet in Co. Cavan, was secured on 24 February 2015. This work is estimated at €2.5m, including VAT.  

Waterways Ireland is currently working on the first phase of reopening navigation from the Erne to Castle Saunderson on the Ulster Canal.  Works are on target with completion anticipated at end of May 2018, subject to weather conditions and water levels over the 2017 /2018 winter. 

In 2017 to date almost €2.6m has been spent on the entire Ulster Canal project.  A further expenditure of €270k is forecast to the end of 2017.  Expenditure of €1.133m is forecast to complete navigation to Castle Saunderson in 2018.  The business case for the project updated for my Department in 2015 estimated provisional costs for restoration of navigation to Clones at €46m, including VAT.  

The project is progressing incrementally, as resources allow, and options for moving to the next phases are being considered.