Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 6 March 2014
21. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will provide an update on plans to restore and salvage the heritage vessel the Naomh Éanna currently under the control of Waterways Ireland; the meetings he has held regarding this vessel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10632/14]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, the Naomh Éanna is owned by the Irish Nautical Trust and has been moored at Grand Canal Dock since 1989, when it was found to no longer meet health and safety requirements to operate as a passenger-carrying vessel. Unfortunately, the ship has deteriorated substantially in the past 20 years and presents a real risk in the Grand Canal Basin, in the heart of Dublin's Docklands. In April 2013, a report on the hull condition of the vessel, commissioned by its owners, highlighted serious safety concerns. Based on the report’s findings, the Irish Nautical Trust issued a ‘Notice to Vacate’ to both of the businesses that had been operating from the vessel. I am advised that very significant investment would be required to preserve the already unstable hull of the vessel and to bring the vessel to the point where it would be safe and insurable. I am further advised that the vessel's owners do not have the financial resources to deal with these issues. In the circumstances, Waterways Ireland offered to arrange for the removal and disposal of the ship on behalf of the Irish Nautical Trust. Waterways Ireland made this offer as the property owners of the Grand Canal Dock because of the continuing serious risk posed by the condition of the Naomh Éanna, the disruption and expense that would be involved were it to sink in the Grand Canal Dock and the absence of any firm indication that the very significant level finance required to make it safe and insurable was potentially available. The Irish Nautical Trust accepted the offer and confirmed its approval to Waterways Ireland to dispose of the vessel on its behalf.
Following a commitment given in Dáil Éireann on 13 February 2014, a meeting of the accountable bodies with an interest in the matter took place on 18 February to determine if anything could be done to avert the disposal of the Naomh Éanna. This meeting included officials from my Department, Waterways Ireland, the National Asset Management Agency and the Health & Safety Authority (HSA). The Marine Survey Office, Dublin City Council, Dublin Port Authority and the Environmental Protection Agency were also invited but were not in a position to send representatives. The meeting concluded that the proper course of action to be taken was to proceed with the disposal of the vessel because of the continuing serious risk it posed, the disruption and expense that would be involved were it to sink in the Grand Canal and the absence of any firm indication that the very significant level finance required to make it safe and insurable was potentially available. This decision was not taken lightly.
I am aware of the desire among some individuals and groups to see the Naomh Éanna restored and, as I advised in Seanad Éireann on 26 February, any such interested individuals or groups now have until 31 March to come up with a realistic proposal to restore the vessel. Any such proposal would have to be based on a credible, definitive business plan with access to the required finance and, in that regard, I must re-iterate that there is no question of State funding being made available. In view of the serious safety issues posed by the Naomh Éanna, it will not be feasible to delay action to deal with those issues beyond that time frame.
