Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 31 May 2022
215. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of the work with the Northern Ireland Executive to deliver the cross-Border Ulster Canal project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27677/22]
View answerThe Programme for Government includes a commitment to work with the Northern Ireland Executive to deliver the flagship cross-border Ulster Canal project. The Government has met with the Northern Ireland Executive on a number of occasions and most recently in November 2021, under the auspices of the North South Ministerial Council, re-affirming their joint commitment to the Ulster Canal project and noting its progress.
Officials from both my Department and the Department for Infrastructure, continue to co-operate effectively and communicate on a regular basis, to progress the work programmes involved in the project, the aim of which is critical to providing a safe and high quality recreational environment for the public, whilst also preserving the industrial and environmental heritage of the waterways for future generations.
In December 2020, the Government announced approval of €7 million in Shared Island Funding, to enable the continued restoration of the Ulster Canal project. This included the ongoing work on Phase 2 of the restoration from Clones to Clonfad, the plans for Phase 3 of the restoration from Castle Saunderson to Clonfad, and the plans for the development of the Ulster Canal Greenway.
Phase 1: Restoration of the Ulster Canal comprising c. 2.5 kilometres of new navigation from Upper Lough Erne along the River Finn to a new boating destination at Castle Saunderson was completed in 2019.
Phase 2: Construction on site of the Clonfad to Clones phase of the project is planned to commence in the summer of 2022, with substantial completion of the main infrastructure works expected in Q2 of 2023.
Phase 3: Clonfad to Castle Saunderson comprises the restoration of a 10km stretch of the canal through Fermanagh and Monaghan, which will link Phases 1 and 2. This will complete access from Clones to the River Shannon via Lough Erne and the Shannon-Erne Waterway system.
Phase 3 has four sub-phases:
- Phase 3.1 Castle Saunderson to Gortnacarrow;
- Phase 3.2 Gortnacarrow to the border;
- Phase 3.3 Border to Derrynure;
- Phase 3.4 Derrynure to Clonfad.
Outline design work for phases 3.1, 3.2 and 3.4 was completed in 2021. Further preparatory work relating to the updating of the Business Case for the restoration from Lough Erne to Clones will continue through 2022 and 2023. Work on a new planning application for sub phase 3.3 is expected to continue through 2023 and 2024. The indicative timeline for completion of all of the sub phases within Phase 3 is 2028.
