Questions to the Minister 2009 – GCD, Houseboats, Maintenance
Over the past six months a number of written questions have been submitted in the Dail about our waterways. These may be of interest to those currently on the Grand Canal heading east.
On October 13th the Minister was asked about access to Grand Canal Docks and Houseboat Policy [see Dail Questions Grand Canal Docks and Houseboats Oct 2009]
Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour) Question 300: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs his policy on the use and management of houseboats on the inland waterways, in particular on the Grand Canal Dock, Dublin 4; if he is liaising with Waterways Ireland on this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35672/09]
Éamon Ó Cuív (Minister, Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs; Galway West, Fianna Fail) I have been informed by Waterways Ireland, which has responsibility for the management, maintenance, development and restoration of the inland waterways, that it is finalising a draft Houseboat Policy that will determine how the Body will regulate and manage recognised houseboats on its navigations.
Shannon Harbour is under consideration as a pilot location for designated houseboats (subject to planning), as part of major ongoing and planned regeneration works in the area. On completion of the pilot houseboat project and assessment of the outcomes, it is intended to roll out the implementation of the Houseboat Policy across the navigational network, subject to demand and resources being available.
Boat access to Grand Canal Dock for mooring purposes is suspended at present, due to a number of ongoing and planned major infrastructural improvements, including structural repairs to the dock walls within the inner and outer basins and the extension of a surface water outfall pipeline through Grand Canal Dock by Dublin City Council. Until these works have been completed and the appropriate planning approvals received, I am advised that houseboats cannot be accommodated in Grand Canal Dock.
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On October 6th the Minister was also asked about improvements on the canals from a tourist and local perspective [see Dail Questions Progress on Waterways Oct 2009]
Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour) Question 142: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if he has had or proposes to have meetings with Waterways Ireland as to funding or budgetary matters regarding improvements to the canals within their remit to provide better facilities for users of the canals from a tourist as well as local perspective with special emphasis on moorings or marinas, angling or walking facilities or other facility within the remit of the agency in view of the present economic climate; the funding requested; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34203/09]
Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael) Question 158: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs when he last held a meeting with the chief executive of Waterways Ireland; the agenda for the meeting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33469/09]
Éamon Ó Cuív (Minister, Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs; Galway West, Fianna Fail) I propose to take Questions 142 and 158 together. I meet with the Chief Executive of Waterways Ireland on a regular basis. At our most recent meeting on 27 July 2009, we discussed progress by the organisation to date in 2009.
As the Deputies will be aware, Waterways Ireland has made considerable progress in recent years. During 2008, the ongoing upgrading of the waterways saw a total of 581 metres of additional moorings completed, with the maintenance programme keeping 95% of all navigable waterways open, as planned, for recreational activity. Maintenance projects included:
o continuance of the dredging programme on the Grand Canal to restore the canal to its navigable depth;
o the completion of dredging on 3,200 metres of the Barrow line between Vicarstown and Courtwood in Co. Laois and on a further 1,300 metres of the Main Line dredged between Plunkett and Derries Bridges adjacent to Pollagh Co. Offaly; and
o the upgrading of stone jetties on the Barrow navigation, with 300 metres of bank protection works and trackway widening between Carlow and Bestfield Lock and the installation of new lock gates.
Achievements this year on the development of the waterways include:
o completion of 79 metres of additional moorings;
o completion of the construction of the final bridge at Lyneen to reconnect the Royal Canal to the Shannon; and
o progress on the restoration of the Ulster Canal with the preliminary stages of the design process well underway.
I also had preliminary discussions with the Chief Executive regarding Waterways Ireland’s proposed capital programme and financial provision for 2010. The precise scale of works to be carried out in 2010 to improve services and facilities along the navigation and the associated funding to be made available will be set out in Waterway’s Ireland’s Business Plan for 2010, which is currently being prepared, and which will be submitted for approval to the North/South Ministerial Council in due course.
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On June 17th, the Minister was questioned about plans to address the use of non-navigable waterways [see Dail Questions Non Navigable Canals Jun 2009]
Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour) Question 42: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the mileage of non-navigable canal here; the geographical areas where such exists; his plans to address this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23847/09]
Éamon Ó Cuív (Minister, Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs; Galway West, Fianna Fail)
In replying to the Deputy’s Question, it is necessary to distinguish between canals that are under the control of Waterways Ireland and those which are not. In relation to those canals under the control of Waterways Ireland, it is further necessary to distinguish between non-navigable canals that could be restored at some stage in the future and those which are obsolete because they have been replaced by a parallel navigation. For the sake of completeness, I am also including in my reply details of some other navigations that are primarily river-based, rather than being canals per se.
The following are the details requested by the Deputy in respect of non-navigable stretches of canals that are within the control of Waterways Ireland and are being or could be restored:
o Grand Canal · Kilbeggan Branch (8.2 miles long) in Co. Offaly and Co. Westmeath.
o Part of Naas & Corbally Branch (Corbally Extension) (4.4 miles long) in Co. Kildare.
o Barrow Line Part of Mountmellick Branch (0.25 miles long) in Co. Kildare (remaining 11 miles filled in).
Royal Canal
o Part of Royal Canal (11 miles long) in Co. Longford, currently under restoration.
o Longford Branch (3 miles long) in Co. Longford.
The Royal Canal main line is currently under restoration and the remaining work necessary to return it to full navigation between Dublin and the Shannon is due for completion in 2010.
Ulster Canal
o 46 miles long in Co. Cavan, Co. Monaghan, Co. Fermanagh and Co. Armagh. Approval has been given to Waterways Ireland to restore the stretch between Lough Erne and Clones. Present indications are that this stretch could be re-opened by 2013.
The following are details of canals that became redundant following parallel works on the Shannon Navigation in the period 1839 – 1846, or following the construction of Ardnacrusha in the 1920s:
o Park Canal (1 mile long) in Limerick City.
o Errina-Plassey Canal (6.9 miles long) in Co. Clare.
o Hamilton Canal (1.9 miles long) in Co. Offaly.
o Athlone Canal (0.9 miles long) in Athlone.
o Roosky Canal (1.2 miles long) in Co. Roscommon.
A number of these are maintained as linear parks by agreement with the local authority or other local agency.
It is intended, subject to availability of resources, to carry out feasibility studies and preliminary designs in relation to the Longford Branch, the Kilbeggan Branch and the Corbally Extension, along with extensions to Annagh Upper near Dowra on the Shannon Navigation and to Lough Oughter on the Erne System with a view to possible re-opening. Consideration will also be given to the carrying out of preliminary analysis and assessment of the Mountmellick Branch, as well as the Boyne Navigation (which is primarily a river navigation) and the extension towards Mohill on the Rinn River, as future possibilities for restoration.
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On April 29th the Minister was asked about what action was taking place to encourage activity on the canals [see Dail Questions Barges Houseboats Activity Grand Royal Apr 2009]
Lucinda Creighton (Dublin South East, Fine Gael) Question 167: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the action that is being taken to encourage the use of narrow boats and house boats or barges on the Royal Canal and the Dublin Canal; the reason there are no moorings in the entire stretch from Sallins to Dublin Port; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16901/09]
Lucinda Creighton (Dublin South East, Fine Gael)
Question 168: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the action that can be taken generally to increase activity on the Grand Canal in view of the fact that it is such an important resource; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16902/09]
Éamon Ó Cuív (Minister, Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs; Galway West, Fianna Fail)
I propose to take Questions Nos. 167 and 168 together. Waterways Ireland works proactively with a wide range of statutory, commercial and community stakeholders to stimulate increased activity on both the Royal Canal and the Grand Canal. Waterways Ireland markets and promotes Ireland’s inland waterways, including the Grand and Royal Canal, in a strategic and integrated manner to deliver five key marketing objectives: Awareness Creation; Development of Waterways Ireland’s corporate identity; Promoting greater use of the waterways; Working in partnership with other bodies; and building a platform for sustained market development.
These marketing objectives are achieved through the delivery of a number of actions, including a sponsorship programme, the development and distribution of publications, an award winning website, attendance at national and international tourism and trade shows, advertising and public relations, and joint initiatives with other trade and tourism organisations.
Consultants have been engaged by Waterways Ireland, Fáilte Ireland, Dublin City Council and Dublin Docklands Development Authority with the terms of reference of examining the Recreational, Tourism and Commercial potential of the Dublin City Canals and the development of an Investment and Maintenance Framework.
In addition, Waterways Ireland also continues to develop and enhance the recreational products associated with the Royal and Grand Canal. In this regard, it may be noted that the Royal Canal is presently not fully navigable, with restoration works ongoing at both ends — namely, Spencer Dock at the eastern end and the last 25km of the western end from Ballymahon to Richmond Harbour, Clondra, Co. Longford. It is envisaged that the Royal Canal will be open for boat navigation in 2010. Waterways Ireland liaises with a wide range of stakeholders, including the Royal Canal Amenity Group in relation to boating issues, and will continue to do so when the Royal Canal is fully open for navigation. Waterways Ireland also liaises with the Inland Waterways Association of Ireland (IWAI) and individual boat / barge owners in relation to the Grand Canal, which is fully open to navigation, and to that end have been working closely with IWAI Dublin Branch in organising the Dublin Rally (Lucan to Grand Canal Dock, Ringsend) over the period 9th to 23rd May 2009.
There is a range of locations in which boats can moor on the Grand Canal, including Grand Canal Dock, Mespil Road, Charlemont Place and Portobello, as well as along the canal bank itself. A feasibility study is ongoing in conjunction with Dublin City Council regarding a possible marina at Park West (the 8th level of the Grand Canal Main Line) and planning permission has been obtained by a developer at Pelletstown (the Cabra/Ashtown area of Royal Canal) for a 19-berth marina.
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