asked the Minister for Transport when he proposes to introduce legislation in the Dáil to give effect to the Government decision, announced on 30 November 1978, to transfer the Grand and Royal Canals from CIE to the Office of Public Works.
386.
Written Answers. - Canals Transfer.
385.
asked the Minister for Transport if it is his intention, in addition to transferring the Grand and Royal Canals to the Office of Public Works, to transfer all the property and leases of the Grand Canal Company which had been vested in CIE under the Transport Acts 1944 and 1950 to the Office of Public Works with the exception of the properties no longer in the ownership of CIE.
387.
asked the Minister for Transport the number and grades of staff it is intended to transfer from CIE to the Office of Public Works.
388.
asked the Minister for Transport if negotiations have been concluded with CIE and the staff unions in relation to the transfer of any staff from CIE to the Office of Public Works.
389.
asked the Minister for Transport if negotiations have been concluded with the Commissioners and staff of the Office of Public Works on any restructuring that might be necessary following the transfer of the Grand and Royal Canals to the Office of Public Works.
390.
asked the Minister for Transport the provision he intends making in the proposed legislation to accomplish the objectives set out in the Government's decision of 30 November 1978 relating to closed navigations.
391.
asked the Minister for Transport if he intends including in the proposed legislation on the transfer of the Grand and Royal Canals to the Office of Public Works provisions for the formal re-opening of closed navigations, the development of the Grand Canal for navigation and general amenity purposes and the development of the Royal Canal.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 385 to 391, inclusive, together.
I would refer the Deputy to my reply to a previous question on this subject on 12 June 1980.
Preparatory work on draft legislation to provide for the transfer of the Grand and Royal Canals to the Office of Public Works is still in progress but has not yet advanced sufficiently to enable a more definitive reply to be given regarding the various matters raised by the Deputy.