Liam Lawlor
Ceist:62 Mr. Lawlor asked the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht the current position in respect of the action taken regarding the upgrading of the Royal Canal corridor. [10491/96]
Written Answers. - Royal Canal Upgrading.
I assume the Deputy is referring to the Royal Canal corridor study which was formally launched by me in January 1996. The Royal Canal is navigable from the first lock at North Strand Road, Dublin to Mullingar. The waterways service of my Department has reached agreement in principle with CIE-Iarnród Eireann about the removal of the last remaining obstacle to navigation to the River Liffey, a railway line over the canal at Newcomen junction, and its replacement with a lifting bridge.
The waterways service is maintaining the Royal Canal in the corridor area as resources permit and is actively working with local authorities and the private sector to improve the canal corridor. One of the recommendations of the corridor study was the appointment of a project manager, who would report to a steering committee in my Department, to co-ordinate the work of the various agencies and implement the findings of the corridor study report. I am currently examining this recommendation and I hope to be in a position to make appropriate arrangements soon.