Vol. 541 No. 2
836 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage Gaeltacht and the Islands the programme of work which is planned by her Department and Waterways Ireland to ensure that the Royal Canal becomes fully navigable from Abbeyshrule, County Longford to Clondra, County Longford by 2006; if the works will necessitate an additional allocation to ensure their completion; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21685/01]
The issue raised by the Deputy, in relation to ensuring that the Royal Canal becomes fully navigable from Abbeyshrule, County Longford to Clondra, County Longford by 2006, is the day to day responsibility of Waterways Ireland, a North-South implementation body for inland waterways, set up under the British-Irish Agreement signed in March 1999. I have been informed by Waterways Ireland that its programme of work will facilitate the completion of the project by 2006. It is envisaged that adequate funding will be in place for the completion of the work.
