asked the Minister for Transport and Power if he will consider taking steps to ensure that the canals which flow through the city of Dublin will be reclaimed; and, if not, why.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Reclamation of Dublin Canals.
9.
At my instance, C.I.E. have undertaken to co-operate to the fullest extent possible with the Dublin Corporation in the question of the future of the Dublin city section of the canals. Among the proposals which I am informed are under consideration is the filling in of the city section of the Royal Canal for use as a road site.
While the city section of the Royal Canal has already been closed to navigation, the city sections of the Grand Canal have not and C.I.E. are still under statutory obligation to maintain them in a navigable condition. The city sections of the Grand Canal cannot legally be closed to navigation unless and until there has been no public navigation thereon for a period of at least three years. Meanwhile no question of reclamation of those sections can arise.
I want the Minister to keep in mind that several children were drowned during the past two years as a result, according to the inquest proceedings, of being caught in weeds in the canal. We will have more tragedies this year and next year.
The Grand Canal was almost completely deweeded recently.
Let us hope it will continue to be deweeded.
Did the Minister say at the outset of his reply "At my request" or "at my instance"?
"At my instance" was the reply.
I am glad to hear the Minister is in some kind of communication with C.I.E.