I wish to inform the Deputy that Waterways Ireland, a North/South implementation body for inland waterways was established on 2 December 1999 on foot of the British-Irish Agreement and the supplementary Implementation Bodies Agreement signed in March 1999. Accordingly the matter raised by him is now one to be dealt with by Waterways Ireland and indeed the ESB.
However, Waterways Ireland has advised that they expect to receive the final report on the management of water levels on the River Shannon shortly. I understand that copies will be forwarded to my Department, the Department of the Taoiseach and the Department of Public Enterprise. I further understand that copies will be made available to the sub-committee of the Joint Committee on Public Enterprise and Transport and the Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine.