Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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193. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will provide an update in respect of the progress made to date by Waterways Ireland regarding its work on the restoration of the Ulster Canal. [47050/23]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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The Programme for Government includes a commitment to work with the Northern Ireland Executive to deliver the flagship cross-border Ulster Canal project. In July 2007, it was agreed by the North/South Ministerial Council (NSMC) to extend Waterways Ireland remit to include the reconstruction of a 13.5km stretch of the Ulster Canal from Upper Lough Erne to Clones.

Waterways Ireland have approached the restoration of the Ulster Canal in a phased manner as detailed below:

PHASE 1: UPPER LOUGH ERNE TO CASTLE SAUNDERSON

Restoration of the Ulster Canal comprising c. 2.5 kilometers of new navigation from Upper Lough Erne along the River Finn to a new boating destination at Castle Saunderson was completed in 2019

PHASE 2: CLONFAD TO CLONES

Construction on site of the Clonfad to Clones phase of the project commenced in August 2022. Substantial completion of the main infrastructure is expected at the end of Q4 2023 with completion of landscaping and ancillary works expected in Spring 2024.

PHASE 3: CASTLE SAUNDERSON TO CLONFAD

Substantial preparation work is under way for the delivery of this phase. This section will connect the 10km between Castle Saunderson and Clonfad and link the town of Clones by navigable waterway to the Erne System and onward to the wider waterway network.

This work is split into 4 sub-phases with planning permission already in place for sub-phase 3.1, 3.2 & 3.3. The three sub phases of Phase 3 which are ready for progression are as follows:

- Sub-Phase 3.1 (2kms) Castle Saunderson to Gortnacarrow

- Sub-Phase 3.2 (0.5kms) Gortnacarrow to the Border

- Sub-Phase 3.4 (3.75kms) New canal navigation between the border at Derrynure and the border at Clonfad

These sub-phases involve substantive infrastructure, including new road bridges and layouts, a marina and restored heritage architecture. In aggregate, a further 6.25km of canal would be restored.

This leaves a remaining phase of 3.75km (sub phase 3.3) to be addressed (when planning is extended) to conclude the link from Clones to Castle Sanderson. The work relating to the preparation of this planning application has commenced.

Work has also commenced in the preparation of a Land Acquisition Strategy for lands in Ireland and Northern Ireland, with ongoing engagement with DfI Roads and Land & Property Services (LPS).

Funding for phases 3.1, 3.2 and 3.4 has been approved by Government. The current estimated completion of all elements of phase 3 is Q4 2028.

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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194. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government his plans to work with Waterways Ireland to bring the Newry Canal within its network of waterways; and if he has received a request from Waterways Ireland to bring the canal within its area of responsibility. [47055/23]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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Waterways Ireland is a North South body whose role, responsibilities and remit are set out in the British Irish Agreement Act 1999 and the North-South (Implementation Bodies) (Northern Ireland) Order 1999.

Any amendment to the remit of Waterways Ireland would be a matter for the North South Ministerial Council and would require legislative changes to both the Act and the Order.

The body has responsibility for the following waterways:

The Shannon Navigation, Shannon Erne Waterway, Royal Canal, Grand Canal, Barrow Navigation, Erne System and the Lower Bann Navigation and the Ulster Canal.

Waterways Ireland has not requested any extension of its remit to include the Newry Canal.