Gerry Reynolds
Ceist:5 Mr. G. Reynolds asked the Minister for Finance if he intends to introduce legislation in connection with the Bal-linamore-Ballyconnell canal, County Leitrim, early this year.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Ballinamore-Ballyconnell Canal.
It is intended, subject to the approval of the Government, to have legislation which includes provision to enable the Ballinamore-Ballyconnell Canal to be restored, presented to the Dáil and circulated to Deputies as early as possible this year.
Can the Minister give us an idea when "as early as possible" would be? Would there be any probability of having the legislation before the House during this session?
It is not possible for me to give any commitments now about the precise time but the Deputy will be aware that it was intended to make some amendments to the Shannon navigation legislation to remove any doubts about the legal position of the Office of Public Works in relation to the Ballyconnell canal. It would be the intention to provide in that legislation for the necessary amendments. I hope we can progress as speedily as possible. If the Deputy is worried about the project I can assure him that there will be no undue delay in proceeding with it. We can deal with legislation simultaneously.
I am not worried about the project. I would like to put it on the record of the House that I compliment the Government for this project for which £16 million has been provided this year. At our end of the country there are great expectations for this project and it has tremendous tourist potential. I would ask the Government to try to have the legislation on the Statute Book before the end of this session.
The legislation is being drafted and it will be proceeded with as expeditiously as possible. The finances have been provided in the current Estimates for the project. It is an excellent project which we hope will proceed as speedily as possible and there will be no undue delay in proceeding with the legislation.