Rory O'Hanlon
Question:227 Dr. O'Hanlon asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage Gaeltacht and the Islands if she will promote the refurbishment of the Ulster Canal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3616/01]
Written Answers. - Inland Waterways.
Waterways Ireland, a North-South implementation body for inland waterways established on 2 December 1999 on foot of the Good Friday Agreement was assigned the functions of management, maintenance, development and restoration of certain inland navigable waterways systems throughout the island, principally for recreational purposes. The body was also charged with carrying out further studies on the Ulster Canal with a view to its possible restoration.
The Ulster Canal project was raised at the recent North-South Ministerial Council Meeting which I hosted in Scarriff on 29 January 2001. The council was informed that a draft final report from consultants engaged in the matter had been received by Waterways Ireland which hopes to be in a position to present a preliminary assessment of the project to the two sponsoring Departments by the end of February 2001.