Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 25 March 2014
576. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding issues canal users have with the recent changes in mooring and passage fees. [12859/14]
View answerThe Deputy will appreciate I am constrained by parliamentary procedure from addressing in detail the issues set out in the correspondence that accompanied this Parliamentary Question as "details supplied". The Deputy will be aware that a public consultation was undertaken by Waterways Ireland on the proposed bye-laws governing Grand Canal, the Royal Canal and the Barrow system and this concluded on 3 February 2014. The proposed new bye-laws provide for the management of house boats, extended moorings and residential moorings. They will also modernise the charging regime which has remained unchanged for almost a quarter of a century.
I am advised that Waterways Ireland received over 2,000 submissions in the course of the by-law consultation process. Waterways Ireland is now giving full and careful consideration to all of these submissions and I am advised by Waterways Ireland that some of the submissions touch on the issues outlined in the correspondence that accompanied the Deputy's Question. In particular, all proposed fees and charges are currently being examined by Waterways Ireland in the context of the submissions arising from the recent public consultation process.
Waterways Ireland will then prepare a report setting out its proposed approach, including any revisions it may wish to make to its original proposals, having regard to all of the submissions received including those relating to the proposed fees. The report will be submitted to my Department and will then be referred to me, with recommendations for consideration and final decision. As previously indicated, I will afford interested Deputies and Senators an opportunity to discuss the proposals with me prior to making the final decision.
