Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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113. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government when a project (details supplied) will proceed to the next stage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50357/21]

Malcolm Noonan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party)
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Waterways Ireland commenced planning and design preparation work on Phase 2 of the Ulster Canal restoration project (Clones to Clonfad) in County Monaghan during 2021.

Construction on site is planned to commence in the summer of 2022, subject to completion of land acquisition. Substantial completion of the main infrastructure works is expected in Q2 of 2023.

This phase will include the following infrastructure:

Circa 0.7 km of new canal,

New canal basin with capacity for 40 berths at Clones,

Boat slipway

Refurbishment of existing masonry arch bridge,

New access bridge(s),

Service block with toilets & showers,

Tourism and recreation facilities,

Looped walking and cycling routes along the canal banks,

Reimagined public realm & amenity area with parking.

Phase 3 of the Ulster Canal Restoration (Clonfad to Castle Saunderson)is a 10km stretch of the canal through Fermanagh and Monaghan which will link Phases 1 and 2. This will complete access from Clones to the River Shannon via Lough Erne and the Shannon-Erne Waterway system.

Phase 3 has four sub-phases:

Phase 3.1 Castle Saunderson to Gortnacarrow;

Phase 3.2 Gortnacarrow to the border;

Phase 3.3 Border to Derrynure;

Phase 3.4 Derrynure to Confad.

The indicative timeline for completion of Phase 3 is 2028.