Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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686. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the funding her Department is to provide to Waterways Ireland to maintain and enhance canals as a tourist amenity; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3110/18]

Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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Waterways Ireland is responsible for the management, maintenance, development and restoration of some 1,000 km of navigable inland waterways principally for recreational purposes. It has responsibility for the Shannon-Erne Waterway, the Shannon Navigation, the Barrow Navigation, the Grand and Royal Canals, the Erne System and the Lower Bann Navigation.

This is a significant recreational resource and Waterways Ireland has been proactive in the development of Blueways and Greenways as a means to attract new visitors and in response to the growth for recreational activities such as walking, canoeing and cycling.

The amount of funding allocated to Waterways Ireland from my Department's Vote in 2018 is €24.106 million to undertake its statutory functions across its entire network.

Waterways Ireland is actively involved in the development of the towpaths along the canals to provide off-road, safe amenities for walkers and cyclists.

Waterways Ireland has worked with Local Authorities, the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport, Fáilte Ireland and other partners to upgrade the Royal Canal towpath as part of the Dublin-Galway cycle route and it is hoped that this route will be largely completed, and indeed extended to the Shannon River, by the end of this current year.

The continued development of the Grand Canal towpath and the Barrow towpath are important off-road links to open up Southern and Western Ireland to tourists.

Waterways Ireland is also at the forefront of developing Blueways along the canals network. They offer opportunities for locals and tourists to enjoy outdoor recreational activities on and beside the water in a comfortable, safe environment. Infrastructure is in place and plans are underway to have an operational Blueway in place along the Royal Canal at Mullingar for Summer 2018.