asked the Minister for Local Government if he proposes to introduce legislation to close a section of the Grand Canal in Dublin; and, if so, when.
20.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Closing of Grand Canal.
19.
asked the Minister for Local Government what organisations were consulted before a decision was taken to close a part of the Grand Canal in Dublin.
21.
asked the Minister for Local Government if he will hold a public inquiry into the proposal to close the Grand Canal so that all aspects of the matter can be fully considered before any decision is taken.
22.
asked the Minister for Local Government whether his attention has been drawn to the statement of the Dublin City Manager on 4th December in which he intimated that the proposal to convert the Grand Canal into a six-lane highway was still under consideration; and if he will now make a full and comprehensive statement on the future of the Grand Canal as a waterway.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 19, 20, 21 and 22 together.
The extent, if any, to which existing legislation may be inadequate to enable the Dublin city section of the Grand Canal to be closed temporarily to permit Dublin Corporation to lay sewerage drains under the canal and to restore the canal over the drains is being examined. The question of introducing legislation will depend on the outcome of this examination. For the purposes of the examination, the corporation are arranging consultations with CIE.
As regards consultations with other organisations, I would emphasise that agreement to the temporary closure is in principle only, and is subject to confirmation at a later stage if it is established that a scheme on the lines envisaged is feasible. All aspects of the problems involved in the scheme are being fully considered, and it is not proposed to hold a public inquiry into the proposed temporary closure.
I understand that the City Manager has indicated that the recommendation by Professor Schaecterle that a road should be constructed along the line of the canel as part of the urban road network is being studied in association with other recommendations relating to this network. No proposal for such a road has been submitted to me nor am I aware that any such proposal has been submitted to the City Council.
In view of the magnitude of the work involved, and in order to confirm whether there is any alternative method of providing sewerage facilities, and also in view of the cost, would the Minister not consider that a public inquiry would be justified?
I am satisfied that there is no need for a public inquiry. The Government's decision is that, provided feasible schemes are produced, the Dublin section of the canal can be closed temporarily in order to provide these essential services.
Would the Minister say what estimates of cost have been prepared on the basis of a proposal to lay sewerage pipes in the canal and any alternative schemes?
There are no firm estimates of costs, but it is quite clear that any alternative method would be prohibitive.
Would the Minister say has any report from outside consultative engineers been secured, other than that from the corporation's own engineers?
I do not think so.
How is it that in the case of the sewerage scheme on the north side the pipes were brought down Griffith Avenue and Collins Avenue and were not brought down the Royal Canal which is not in use at all practically? There is the same situation on the north side as on the south side. It must have been cheaper to lay the pipes on the roads on the north side. Why not the same on the south side?
The scheme to which the Deputy refers was going to an outfall at Howth. The Royal Canal does not go near Howth.
They are going to build a road on top of the canal. This is the first step towards that.
There is no use in trying to explain these things to Deputy Dillon who insists on believing what he wants to believe, irrespective of the fact that the Government's decisions is that this is a temporary closing.
This is the first step in putting a road on top of the canal.