Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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Waterways Ireland is co-funded by my Department and the Department for Infrastructure in Northern Ireland. The current expenditure of the body is funded 85% by my Department and 15% by the Department for Infrastructure which reflects the distribution of the navigable waterways in each jurisdiction. Capital expenditure is funded 100% in the jurisdiction in which the capital works are carried out.

The amount of funding allocated to Waterways Ireland from my Department's Vote for 2018 is €24,106,000 made up of €20,526,000 in Current and €3,580,000 in Capital - an increase of €1,148,000 on the 2017 allocation.

Waterways Ireland focuses on delivering its core activities and maintaining front line services. In 2018, Waterways Ireland has concentrated the resources available on the areas of navigation which receive the highest levels of use. A key goal for Waterways Ireland is to increase the use of the inland waterways. The number of registered users as of September 2018 stands at 15,479 with 95% of waters navigable during the boating season (mid-March to October)

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

The organisation provides services as diverse as physical maintenance of the infrastructure from navigation markers, sluices, back drains embankments, weirs and locks to service blocks, pump outs, and towpaths and carparks.

Water management and control are important elements of the organisation's work together with provision of the Warden and Inspectorate service on each waterway to manage recreational use.

Waterways Ireland provides navigation guides and information to support use of the waterways and has a strong community and business outreach and partnership policy to engage with and deliver services for communities adjacent to the waterways to create social, recreational, health and economic benefits.

The inland waterways are an intrinsic part of the island's tourism attractions and Waterways Ireland plays a key role in their marketing and promotion. Working with Tourism Ireland, Bord Fáilte and the Northern Ireland Tourist Board it has created and leads initiatives such as the Lakelands and Inland Waterways programme to develop a co-ordinated marketing focus.