Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 9 Jun 1992

Vol. 420 No. 9

Written Answers. - Royal Canal Restoration Works.

Jim Mitchell

Question:

80 Mr. J. Mitchell asked the Minister for Finance if he will outline the works planned in Dublin city by the Office of Public Works on the Royal Canal, its locks and banks in the following three sections (a) section from Liffey Junction to Cross Guns Bridge, (b) section from Cross Guns Bridge to Dorset Street/ Drumcondra Road and (c) section from Dorset Street/Drumcondra Road to North Strand Road; and if he will further outline the timescale for work in each case.

Minister of State at the Department of Finance (Mr. N. Treacy)

Work on the restoration of the Royal Canal for navigation, fishing and public amenity purposes is being carried out by the Office of Public Works on a phased basis.

Phase 1 was the restoration of the stretches between Blanchardstown and Mullingar and was completed in 1990. Phase 2 involving restoration of the stretches between Blanchardstown and the River Liffey at Spenser Dock which includes the areas referred to in the question, commenced in January 1991 and is scheduled for completion early in 1993. Phase 3 comprising the restoration of the stretches from Mullingar to the Shannon at Clondra, and the Longford Branch is already in progress and will take several years to complete.

Works on the section of Canal between Liffey Junction and Cross Guns Bridge are almost complete. The works here involved the construction and fitting of lock gates to the 6th and 7th locks; repairs to the lock chambers; the dredging of the canal to navigational depth; the removal of spoil for dumping off site and the dismantling and removal of a redundant railway bridge. The 5th lock, at Cross Guns Bridge, will be cleaned out and necessary resurfacing works to the canal towpath will also be carried out.

The section of canal between Cross Guns Bridge and Binn's Bridge was actually dredged in the latter part of 1988 and aside from relatively minor repairs to the lockgates and chambers no major engineering works are planned as part of the current programme along this section. However, the Office of Public Works have carried out landscaping works on this section in 1991 and have a contract litter removal and grass cutting service in operation which has added to the presentation and appearance of this popular stretch of canal.

Works on the section of the Royal Canal between Binn's Bridge at Drum-condra Road and Newcomen Bridge at the North Strand together with the replacement of the railway culvert on the canal east of Newcomen Bridge represent the remaining major engineering works required to reopen the navigation between Mullingar and Dublin. New lockgates have already been installed at the 1st lock at Newcomen Bridge and work on dredging the canal stretch will begin within the next few months. When the dredging works are complete new lockgates will be fitted to the 2nd lock at Binn's Bridge and the lock brought back into service. It will also be necessary to replace the railway culvert at North Strand with a bridge to facilitate boat traffic. This should be in place by early 1993.

The Royal Canal has been closed to navigation for over thirty years and in that time received little care or attention. The Royal Canal restoration programme undertaken by the Office of Public Works since the transfer of responsibility for the Canals to that Office has effected a dramatic improvement in the presentation and appearance of what is a valuable and under utilised amenity. While the works to date have of necessity concentrated on the heavy engineering works required to restore navigation to this Canal, I am happy to say that the ancillary recreational potential of the canals has not been neglected. The Office of Public Works has a comprehensive water management and fish restocking programme and has also prepared a detailed ecological survey to assist in the sensitive development of the waterway as an open public amenity, both for local residents and visitors alike. The works carried out by the Office of Public Works on these stretches of canal and those which will be undertaken over the next number of months will, I am sure, effect an overall improvement in this area of the city and will also highlight the potential of this waterway as a public amenity.