Vol. 470 No. 6
46 Mr. Dempsey asked the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht the progress, if any, which has been made over the past two years on the Ulster Canal project; and the proposals, if any, envisaged for the Belturbet/Killykeean section of the canal. [19632/96]
The waterways service of my Department, in conjunction with the newly-established Rivers Agency for Northern Ireland, proposes shortly to invite tenders for a full scale study into the feasibility of restoring the Ulster Canal Preparation of a consultants' brief for the joint study is nearing completion.
The Belturbet-Killykeen area is actually situated in the Erne and Lough Oughter navigation where the long-term proposals include the extension of the navigation from its current terminus at Belturbet, southwards to Killeshandra and Killykeen forest park. The Central Fisheries Board have recently been appointed by the waterways service to investigate the likely effects of the navigation project on the fishery environment and a detailed environment impact statement will also be required. I also expect that this statement will be commissioned shortly.
