Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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1268. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the funding allocated for the restoration of the Ulster Canal in 2019; the expenditure at the end of 2019; the works that were undertaken; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8502/20]

Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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The funding allocated for the restoration of the Ulster Canal in 2019 was €260,000.

The expenditure at the end of 2019 was €105,000.

Works relating to the installation of a new floating jetty facility at Castle Saunderson were completed in October 2019.  This capital investment in navigational infrastructure will create a new destination for waterway users of both the Erne System and the Shannon – Erne Waterway. It is expected to bring additional visitors to the river and to the border area around Castlesaunderson.  

Waterways Ireland was successful in 2019 in securing €325,000 of Category 2 (project management) funding under the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund for additional studies for a section of the restoration between Clones and Clonfad (circa 1 km) in County Monaghan.  A further 25% of match funding was provided by my Department. A commission to investigate sourcing a sustainable water supply commenced in 2019 and is ongoing with completion expected this year.

Work is also ongoing on a tender to develop a vision for the canal zone in this section of restoration. Work relating to land requirements and purchase arrangements for this section of the restoration has also commenced. The expenditure for this element of the restoration amounted to €28,500 in 2019.

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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1269. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if funding can be provided in 2020 for the restoration of the Ulster Canal; the works that will be undertaken in 2020; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8503/20]

Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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Waterways Ireland was successful in 2019 in securing €325,000 of Category 2 funding (project development) towards the restoration of the Ulster Canal under the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund  for  restoration between Clones and Clonfad (circa 1 km) in County Monaghan. A further 25% of match funding is being provided by my Department.

A commission to investigate sourcing a sustainable water supply commenced in 2019 and is ongoing with completion expected in July 2020. A tender has also been awarded for the drilling of investigatory wells in order to inform this study.  Work is also ongoing on a tender to develop a vision for the canal zone in this section of restoration.  Work relating to land requirements and purchase arrangements for this section of the restoration has also commenced.

Waterways Ireland is also preparing outline designs and preliminary investigatory work in order to facilitate the preparation of estimates for the restoration of this section of canal in County Monaghan. These works will be paid for from the secured Rural Regeneration and Development Fund of €433,000, with a spend of €28,500 realised in 2019 and the balance to be spent during 2020 as works are completed.