Vol. 548 No. 2
344 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage Gaeltacht and the Islands the number of marinas on the Shannon River which have received State aid in regard to their construction or initiation from her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4593/02]
There is no State aid available from my Department for the building of private marinas on the River Shannon. Responsibility for the development of marinas has been devolved on Waterways Ireland, a North-South implementation body of inland waterways set up under the British-Irish Agreement signed in March 1999.
Waterways Ireland have informed me that it has recently constructed three new public marinas/harbours on the River Shannon at Boyle, County Roscommon, Ballinasloe, County Galway and Limerick city.
I also understand that Waterways Ireland is working on plans for a new harbour at Ballyleague, County Roscommon, which is the subject of a third party appeal to An Bord Pleanála. In addition, an extension to the existing harbour at Scarriff, County Clare, is also the subject of a third party appeal to An Bord Pleanála.
Waterways Ireland also has plans for an extension to the navigation towards Dowra, County Leitrim, which incorporates floating moorings and which is at design stage; and a proposed new canal and harbour at Glasson, County Westmeath for which preliminary investigations are being done. An extension to the existing moorings at Shannonbridge, County Offaly is currently in progress.
345 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage Gaeltacht and the Islands the number of marinas on the River Barrow which have received State aid in regard to their construction or initiation from her Department. [4594/02]
The issue raised by the Deputy, regarding the number of marinas on the River Barrow which have received State aid in regard to their construction or initiation, 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. There is no State aid available from my Department for the building of private marinas on the River Barrow.
