I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." I am pleased to have the opportunity to open the debate on Second Stage of this Bill, which provides an opportunity to review the development of the functions of my Department relating to inland waterways and the newly assigned responsibility for islands. Deputies will have an opportunity to express their views on the development of our inland waterways and on the offshore Islands. I look forward to hearing those views.
The Department of Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht, now the Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands, was established by the then Government in 1993. The former Roinn na Gaeltachta constituted the core of the new Department, with functions and staff from a number of Departments transferring to form it.
The Heritage Service and the Waterways Service were subsequently transferred from the Office of Public Works. I take this opportunity to commend the Office of Public Works for its excellent stewardship of the national heritage and inland waterways in the years prior to the transfer of these functions. Specific responsibility for the offshore islands was assigned to my Department following the formation of the Government.
Our inland waterways are a living part of our industrial heritage with their own unique ecology, all of which must be protected. Their leisure, amenity and tourism potential should be developed. The completion and maintenance of the connected waterways network and the promotion of leisure activities and tourism are my priorities. Under the Operational Programme for Tourism, 1994-99, a major programme of investment amounting to some £20 million is well advanced.
The Grand Canal main line stretches 131 kilometres across the country from Dublin to the Shannon. An offshoot, the Barrow line, is 45 kilometres long and connects the main line with the River Barrow in Athy, County Kildare. Improvements planned for the Grand Canal under the operational programme have been largely carried out. These involved the repair of several kilometres of embanked sections where the canal runs through bogs; the installation of several hundred mooring posts; the provision of new jetties, quays and slipways; improvements to landing facilities at locks; repairs to a dry dock, and improvements to culverts.
The Barrow Navigation is a river navigation with lateral canals bypassing shoal stretches. It is 69 kilometres long, 17 kilometres in lateral canals, and extends from Athy to St. Mullins, County Carlow below which the river is tidal before entering Waterford harbour. The programme of works is well advanced and includes dredging the navigation and lateral canals; the provision of new landing facilities, moorings, quays and slipways, and the restoration of a dry dock in Graiguenamanagh, County Kilkenny. Some of the finest scenery of any waterway is found along the Barrow Navigation.
The Royal Canal stretches from Spencer Dock on the River Liffey, through the north side of Dublin, to the northern reaches of the Shannon. It is 145 kilometres long. There is a small branch line of eight kilometres to Longford town. Under the operational programme, £7 million is available for restoration. Approximately 80 kilometres are navigable from Dublin to Mullingar, County Westmeath. In Dublin, removal of the low level railway crossing at Newcomen Junction, North Strand Road, will commence shortly and the installation of a new lifting bridge in its place will remove the last remaining obstacle to navigation to and from the River Liffey.
Dredging of the main line is completed. There are three sections where the canal runs through bogs. This year a start was made in repairing the embankments in these areas. The removal of nine culverted road crossings in County Longford and one in County Westmeath which impede navigation must be undertaken. Consultants have submitted preliminary reports setting out various options in terms of the design and cost for six of the bridges in County Longford which the Department is examining. A contract was recently placed for the removal of the culverted road crossing and the raising of the road bridge on the Dublin road in Mullingar and works are under way. When completed next summer, a further 30 kilometres of navigable waterway to Abbeyshrule, County Longford will be available.
My Department has commissioned a firm of consultants to examine the existing water supplies to this canal which are on the low side for navigation purposes and to ascertain where new supplies can be obtained. A programme of lock gate replacement is under way. This should be completed in 1998.
The Shannon Navigation offers some 258 kilometres of cruising waterway through the centre of Ireland. It is a great success story with approximately 550 boats available for hire catering for approximately 50,000 tourists per annum. A number of significant improvements are under way or planned. These include the extension of the navigation from Lough Key along a new canal approximately 1 kilometre long to a point close to Boyle, County Roscommon where a new harbour is to be constructed. The new canal will have ancillary facilities such as mooring, car parking and a shower-toilet block. This project is under way.
In Limerick city the excavation of the Abbey River, the reconstruction of Sarsfield Lock, the construction of a new weir and the provision of floating moorings are planned and work is expected to get under way next year. This project will greatly improve navigation between the freshwater and tidal reaches.
The extension of the Shannon Navigation to the River Suck will allow navigation from the Shannon to Ballinasloe, County Galway. This requires the construction of a new lock in Poolboy, which is well advanced, and the provision of mooring facilities in Ballinasloe.
The Rivers Agency in Northern Ireland, in co-operation with my Department, has commissioned a feasibility study of the possible restoration of the Ulster Canal which would reopen the link between Lough Erne and Lough Neagh. This detailed study will include a full topographical survey; a condition survey of the canal and associated structures; environmental considerations; a water supply and demand study; a navigation study, and a preliminary appraisal of the economics of the options. It is expected that the results of this study will be available in the new year.
Restoration of the Ulster Canal would complete the last major link in the connected waterways network on this island and allow boats to navigate from Waterford estuary in the south east to Coleraine on the River Bann in Northern Ireland. However, any question of its restoration will have to be carefully considered in the context of the results of the feasibility study and, in particular, the major costs which would inevitably arise.
Government policy on our offshore islands is for the first time under the aegis of one Government Department with the islands getting individual mention in the title of my Department. The section of my Department dealing with the islands is being established in na Forbacha, Galway and the process of appointing staff commenced last week. It is my intention, in co-operation with the Minister of State, Deputy Ó Cuív, who has specific responsibility for the islands, to carry out a comprehensive analysis of the access requirements of the inhabited islands. Because of their geographical isolation, island communities are hindered in their development by inadequate and irregular transport services and have to bear higher transport costs. It is the priority of all islands to have a socially desirable year round minimum level of secure transport.
The Minister of State has visited most of the islands and is in the process of analysing the priorities outlined to him during these visits. Access was one of the main issues brought to his attention on each island visited. In consultation with local authorities and other interested parties, it is my intention to draw up a comprehensive five year plan to ensure populated islands, Irish and English speaking, have suitable access. Because a number of organisations are involved in the provision of access services to islands, the strategy in the past has been somewhat fragmented. With overall policy for the islands firmly established in my Department and with the other Departments and organisations involved with island requirements fulfilling their role, I am confident that with the guidance of the Minister of State the problem of access and the associated problem of landing facilities will be satisfactorily addressed during the lifetime of this Government.
Our offshore islands have contributed in no small way to Irish life, particularly in terms of culture, history and language. We have a duty to preserve and promote this unique inheritance. In implementing the action plan for the islands, it is my intention to address the many other issues raised with the Minister of State by islanders during his visits with the priorities identified by the local authorities. As everyone is aware, the Minister of State has an abiding interest in the lives of islanders. He will continue to ensure their voice is heard at the highest level.
Fundamental services such as roads, electricity, water and refuse are essential so that islanders can participate fully in the economic and social life of the nation. Declining population is a major problem for most of our offshore islands. The report of the Interdepartmental Committee on Island Development highlighted a 35 per cent fall in the overall population of our offshore islands between 1961 and 1991. This, coupled with the fact that the average age of the populations on the islands is increasing, has major significance for the economic and social life of our island communities. It also affects the demand for public services such as health and education. It is heartening to note that the 1996 census figures show an increase in the population of some of our offshore islands.
The Minister of State has a particular interest in the matter of health services. He will continue to work with the Department of Health and Children and the health boards to see what can be done to ensure access to health services for islanders at equal cost. He will also pay special attention to the question of education. On 19 September 1997 the Minister for Education and Science announced that the means test associated with the remote area boarding grant for secondary school students was abolished from the commencement of the 1997-98 academic year. In co-operation with the education authorities, every effort will be made to provide education services on islands where the provision of such services is sustainable. I regard the displacement of young children so that they can avail of schooling on the mainland as having a negative effect on the island communities. It is our intention that the Interdepartmental Committee on Island Development will co-ordinate activities pertinent to those Departments represented on it.
The primary purpose of the Bill is to address deficiencies in the powers and functions of the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands which have come to attention over a period of time. My Department is still a relatively new one and it is no surprise, given this fact and the varied nature of its functions, that certain issues require to be addressed in legislation.
I will deal briefly with the main provisions of the Bill. Section 1 provides for a comprehensive definition of inland waterways and a schedule of waterways to which the provisions of the Bill will apply.
Section 2 provides that I may add to, delete from, or amend an entry in respect of an inland waterway in the Schedule, by order, which must be laid before each House of the Oireachtas. Under this section it is open to either House to pass a resolution annulling such order.
Section 3 sets out the powers and functions of the Minister in relation to inland waterways. Section 3(1) provides a broad role for the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands in the management and development of inland waterways. As Minister, my powers and functions in relation to inland waterways are restricted to the Grant Canal, the Royal Canal and the navigation of the Barrow under the Canals Act, l986, to the navigation of the Shannon and Shannon Erne waterway under the Shannon Navigation Act, l990. As Minister I have no statutory role in relation to any other inland waterway and am precluded from involvement in any other.
Section 3(2) provides that I may exercise any of my powers under the Canals Act, l986 and the Shannon Navigation Act, l990 in relation to any inland waterway included in the Schedule but without prejudice to the rights of others under those Acts. For example, this subsection would allow me exercise my powers to enter on any land to carry out works under the Shannon Navigation Act, l990 in relation to the Grand Canal or, should it ever arise, in relation to the Ulster Canal, within this State, or in relation to any other inland waterway which might be added to the Schedule in the future.
Section 3(3) provides that, as Minister, I shall be empowered to carry out works to public roads where such work relates to my functions in respect of inland waterways. I am at present precluded by statute from carrying out works to a public road within the meaning of the Roads Act, l993. In the context of the extensive programme of developmental works under the operational programme to which I referred earlier, this has given rise to some serious problems. For instance, it has emerged that Morans Bridge over the Royal Canal at Mullingar is a public road within the meaning of the Roads Act, l993. Consequently, I am precluded from replacing this bridge — work which is necessary for the restoration of navigation. In addition, the necessary grading required on each side of the new bridge would involve works to a public road. To overcome this problem, officers of the Office of Public Works, who have the necessary legal power under the Commissioners of Public Works (Functions and Powers) Act, l996 are acting as project managers. Similar problems are in prospect in relation to other bridges over the Royal Canal. The provision in this subsection will enable me, as Minister, to arrange for the necessary restoration works to proceed on schedule in the New Year.
Section 4 provides that, as Minister, I may finance the building, acquisition, overhaul or repair of vessels suitable for the operation of ferry services to inhabited offshore islands in the State and to subsidise such services.
At present, under the provisions of the Aran Islands Transport Act, l946, as Minister, I may contract for:
A shipping service available to the public for the transport of passengers and goods for reward between the city of Galway and the Aran Islands.
Beyond that I have no specific power to subsidise ferry services to islands in general. Therefore, this section clarifies the position and will facilitate the implementation of the five-year access plan for the islands to which I referred earlier.
Section 5 sets out my powers and functions in relation to land and other property ancillary to my other functions, including power to acquire an inland waterway, to acquire intellectual property, deal with buildings or other property, either alone or jointly, or through an agent, and provide financial assistance in respect of matters related to my functions.
The Schedule specifies the inland waterways to which the provisions of the Bill apply and includes the Ulster Canal.
Since the publication of this Bill, a technical problem which has arisen vis-a -vis section 10 of the Heritage Act, l995 has been brought to my attention which I shall address by way of amendment on Committee Stage. I recommend the Bill to the House.