Vol. 466 No. 6
72 Dr. O'Hanlon asked the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht the studies, if any, that have been carried out, completed and reported on the opening of the navigation on the upper Erne; whether he will publish the most recent report in this respect; and the plans, if any, he has for opening this navigation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12124/96]
A preliminary engineering report on the possibility of extending the Erne-Lough Oughter Navigation to Killashandra was prepared by the Office of Public Works in 1987.
A number of alternative design options for the navigation are now being examined. When this examination is completed tenders for an environmental impact assessment of the development which is expected to take about a year to complete will be invited. While the environmental impact assessment report is unlikely to be published formally, the Waterways Service will make it available for examination to interested parties and, of course, it would form part of any subsequent application for planning permission.
It would be premature, at this stage, in advance of the completion of design, environmental assessment and economic evaluation, to try to anticipate when it might be possible to open this navigation.
