Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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42. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the funding provided in her Department's Estimates for 2018 for restoration work on the Ulster Canal; the works which will be undertaken with such funding; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19999/18]

Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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Waterways Ireland is currently working on the first phase of reopening navigation from the Erne to Castle Saunderson on the Ulster Canal.

The works to complete the development are in the final phase of delivery and completion is expected in late 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.

In parallel, the next phase of works on the restoration is under active consideration.

This project is important for the border region with potential to stimulate economic activity, giving a much needed boost to job creation and with the growth in water based tourism attracting help attract significant numbers of visitors to the area. This is increasingly significant in the context of Brexit.

I remain committed to the project and I am keen to build on current progress and advance further restoration of the Ulster Canal to Clones and to progress the commitments in the Fresh Start Agreement in relation to the further development of the Ulster Canal.