Vol. 509 No. 6
478 Mr. M. Brady asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands the controls in place to regulate the dumping of human, kitchen and other waste from boats, cruisers and other craft on inland waterways; the requirements in relation to the provision of on-board treatment facilities and the protection of public health; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21574/99]
In regard to the inland waterways for which I have responsibility, namely the River Shannon navigation which includes the Shannon-Erne Waterway, the Royal and Grand Canals and the River Barrow navigation, by-laws are in force for the control and regulation of the use of these waterways. Two sets of by-laws apply, one governing the use of the River Shannon navigation, the other the use of the canals and River Barrow navigation. Generally speaking, the by-laws provide that a person shall not deposit or leave litter in the navigations or on waterway property nor discharge any water into the navigations, other than water used for the purpose of cooling the engines of boats, or from sinks, wash-hand basins and showers on boats. The canals by-laws further provide that a person shall not cause or permit any polluting matter to enter the canals, while the River Shannon navigation by-laws provide that a toilet fitted to a vessel shall be so constructed and fitted as to prevent polluting matter from being discharged or passing into the navigation.
In order to allow the holding tanks on boats to be emptied by users, pump-out facilities were provided along the Shannon-Erne Waterway as part of the restoration of that waterway and the relevant local authorities have provided, and are continuing to provide, pump-out facilities which they operate and maintain at various locations along the River Shannon navigation. Accordingly, as boat traffic on the canals increases, it is intended that local authorities will provide pump-out facilities at appropriate locations.
