Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 7 November 2023
591. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the amount allocated in Budget 2024 to assist with the restoration of the Ulster Canal; and if the route has been an item of discussion in the context of the Shared Island initiative. [47097/23]
View answerThe Programme for Government - Our Shared Future includes a commitment to work with the Northern Ireland Executive to deliver the flagship cross-border Ulster Canal project.
My Department and the Department for Infrastructure in Northern Ireland co-operate effectively and communicate regularly to progress the various work programmes involved in the project, with the aim of 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.
The route of the Ulster Canal project comprises a number of phases.
Phase 1 – Restoration comprising c. 2.5km of new navigation from Upper Lough Erne along the River Finn to a new boating destination at Castle Saunderson. This phase was completed in 2019.
Phase 2 – Clonfad to Clones. Construction of this phase commenced on site in August 2022. Works are well-advanced and will be substantially complete by the end of 2023, with final completion amenity and recreational facilities, including site reinstatement works expected in Spring 2024. Funding for Phase 2 includes a total of €6m from the Shared Island Fund, €6.2m from the Department of Rural and Community Development and approximately €8m from my Department provided via the annual capital allocation to Waterways Ireland.
Phase 3: Castle Saunderson to Clonfad. This phase comprises restoration of the 10km stretch of canal which will link Phases 1 and 2.
Preparatory work has begun on three of the four sub-phases of Phase 3, and I am pleased to confirm a further allocation of €2.5m in 2024 (€2m from Shared Island, and €0.5m from my Department) to bring these sub-phases through the next stages of development. The three sub-phases which are currently underway in preparatory stages are:
3.1 Castlesaunderson to Gortnacarrow
3.2 Gortnacarrow to the border
3.4 Derrynure to Clonfad
The remaining sub-phase 3.3 stretches from the border to Derrynure, and will complete the connection between Clones and Castlesaunderson, linking the town of Clones by navigable waterway to the Erne System and onward to the wider waterway network of the Shannon-Erne Waterway, the Shannon Navigation, the Royal and Grand Canals towards Dublin and further south along the Barrow Line and Barrow Navigation.
The indicative timeline for completion of all sub-phases of Phase 3 is 2028.
