Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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68. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the level of funding provided for Waterways Ireland in each of the years 2016 to 2018; the level of funding proposed for 2019, in particular for the maintenance and upgrade of waterways, canals and rivers in County Dublin; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1581/19]

Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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Waterways Ireland is responsible for the management, maintenance, development and restoration of 1,000 km of the inland navigable waterway system throughout the island, principally for recreational purposes, including the Lower Bann Navigation, the Erne System, the Shannon-Erne Waterway, the Shannon Navigation, the Grand Canal, the Royal Canal and the Barrow Navigation. Other than the Royal and Grand Canals in the county it is not responsible for other waterways and rivers in Dublin.

Waterways Ireland's work programmes, including those canals within County Dublin, are critical to providing a safe and high quality recreational environment for the public, whilst also preserving the industrial and environmental heritage of the waterways for future generations

The level of Exchequer funding to Waterways Ireland from my Department for each of the years 2016 to 2018 is as follows:

Funding to Waterways Ireland - 2016 to 2018

The Estimates for 2019 provide for an allocation of €25,117,000 for Waterways Ireland, made up of €20,737,000 in Current funding and €4,380,000 in Capital funding. This is an overall increase of €1,000,000 on the 2018 allocation.

Capital funding has been increased by €800,000 from €3,580,000 in 2018 to €4,380,000 in 2019

The level of funding allocated for the maintenance and upgrade of waterways, canals and rivers in County Dublin in each of the years 2016 to 2018 and proposed for 2019 is shown in the following table: