Vol. 481 No. 4
209 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands the policy proposals, if any, she has for the future development of the canal system in Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16244/97]
The canals under the remit of my Department have, in recent years, been undergoing a programme of restoration and development works to improve their infrastructure in order to restore them as public amenities. The policy has been based on the findings of reports commissioned by the waterways service of my Department since 1986, including the National Canals and Waterways Strategy report 1992. EU Structural Funding has been provided for canal restoration and development and the present programme of infrastructural works will be completed in 1999. However, further works will be required thereafter to complete the full restoration programme and, in particular, to complete the Royal Canal as a navigation system from Dublin to Shannon.
