Paul McGrath
Question:69 Mr. McGrath asked the Minister for Finance the work, if any, which will be carried out on the Royal Canal during 1993; when it is expected that it will be navigable from Dublin to the Shannon.
Written Answers. - Royal Canal.
The Royal Canal extends from Spencer Dock in Dublin to Clondra, County Longford, a distance of some 90 miles and includes 47 locks, ten of which are double locks. The canal is currently being restored by the Commissioners of Public Works under their Royal Canal restoration programme.
The restoration of the Royal Canal which was closed to navigation by CIE in the early sixties is a considerable undertaking, involving the complete dredging of the canal to navigational depth, the restoration of access along the towpath, the rewatering of levels, the restoration of lock chambers, the manufacture and installation of lock gates and the stocking of fish into sections of the canal. Under the Royal Canal restoration programme the 46 mile stretch of canal between Blanchardstown and Mullingar has been restored and in 1993 works have continued on the restoration of the stretch between Blanchardstown and the River Liffey. At present, with the exception of two small areas in Dublin city at Binn's Bridge and Spencer Dock, restoration works on the stretch between Blanchardstown and the River Liffey have been completed. With the completion of the works at Binn's Bridge and Spencer Dock later this year and the installation of a lifting bridge at Newcomen Bridge to replace the existing railway culvert, on which agreement has been reached with Iarnród Éireann, the Royal Canal between the River Liffey and Mullingar will once again be re-opened to navigation.
Works are also underway in 1993 on the Royal Canal west of Mullingar. Again considerable progress has been made in this area. Dredging and towpath clearance works have reached Ballymahon, approximately 15 miles from the junction of the canal with the Shannon at Clondra. Considerable additional works along this stretch will be required such as the manufacture and installation of lock gates and the removal of fixed obstructions, low road bridges and canal crossings, before this stretch of canal can be reopened to navigation. Furthermore, an investigation of satisfactory water sources, currently in hand, must be completed. However the restoration works undertaken to date have already revitalised a valuable local amenity which is and will continue to be enjoyed by the public at large.
The Royal Canal will be fully navigable from the River Liffey in Dublin, to Mullingar by the end of this year or early next year. The reopening of the canal to navigation between Mullingar and Shannon is dependent on the resources available to the Commissioners of Public Works in the years ahead for their Royal Canal restoration programme and on agreement on the removal of the permanent restrictions to navigation with the relevant local authorities. Because of these variable factors, it is not possible at this stage to provide a date for the reopening of navigation along this length of the canal.