Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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306. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the extent to which she expects to achieve an amicable resolution of issues between Irish Waterways and traditional dwellers and recreational users of the Grand Canal, County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20501/18]

Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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Waterways Ireland continues to work closely with boat owners using the canals, and adjacent land owners and committees. Meetings are held with the key stakeholder interest groups, the Royal Canal Amenity Group, Inland Waterways Association of Ireland (IWAI) and the Heritage Boat Association (HBA).

In addition, Waterways Ireland works alongside the Friends of the Grand Canal and Royal Canal Clean-Up Group in Dublin, who like many of the communities throughout the waterways support the maintenance and operation of the canals.

Operational staff, lockkeepers and waterway patrollers meet canal users, including those in County Kildare, on a regular basis and provide a wide range of services.

Inspectorate staff manage boat use on the canals in accordance with the 1988 Canal By-laws. In this regard, Waterways Ireland continues to concentrate on boats which consistently remain in breach of the by-laws. Where a boat owner fails to respond to requests to comply, after notification by letters, telephone calls and formal notice, a programme of boat removal continues.

Regulation of use of prime location berths is being taken forward under the 1988 Canal By-laws to protect these public amenities.

Waterways Ireland in 2018 will deliver a programme to extend boat effluent pump out facilities and fresh water locations for boat owners using the canal network.