Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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66. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the expenditure to date on the restoration of the Ulster canal; the provision in her Department's Estimates for this project in 2018; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9884/18]

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^thFebruary 2015.

Waterways Ireland is currently working on the first phase of reopening navigation from the Erne to Castle Saunderson on the Ulster Canal.  The works have been temporarily suspended to allow flooding to recede on site following the heavy rainfall post Christmas. Work recommenced on 26^thFebruary 2018.  This weather event will delay completion until July 2018.

To date over €2.8m has been spent on the entire Ulster Canal project. Expenditure of €1.133m is forecast to complete navigation to Castle Saunderson in 2018.