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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 20 Nov 1997

Vol. 483 No. 2

Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands (Powers and Functions) Bill, 1997: Second Stage.

I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." I am pleased to have the opportunity to open the debate on Second Stage of this Bill, which provides an opportunity to review the development of the functions of my Department relating to inland waterways and the newly assigned responsibility for islands. Deputies will have an opportunity to express their views on the development of our inland waterways and on the offshore Islands. I look forward to hearing those views.

The Department of Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht, now the Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands, was established by the then Government in 1993. The former Roinn na Gaeltachta constituted the core of the new Department, with functions and staff from a number of Departments transferring to form it.

The Heritage Service and the Waterways Service were subsequently transferred from the Office of Public Works. I take this opportunity to commend the Office of Public Works for its excellent stewardship of the national heritage and inland waterways in the years prior to the transfer of these functions. Specific responsibility for the offshore islands was assigned to my Department following the formation of the Government.

Our inland waterways are a living part of our industrial heritage with their own unique ecology, all of which must be protected. Their leisure, amenity and tourism potential should be developed. The completion and maintenance of the connected waterways network and the promotion of leisure activities and tourism are my priorities. Under the Operational Programme for Tourism, 1994-99, a major programme of investment amounting to some £20 million is well advanced.

The Grand Canal main line stretches 131 kilometres across the country from Dublin to the Shannon. An offshoot, the Barrow line, is 45 kilometres long and connects the main line with the River Barrow in Athy, County Kildare. Improvements planned for the Grand Canal under the operational programme have been largely carried out. These involved the repair of several kilometres of embanked sections where the canal runs through bogs; the installation of several hundred mooring posts; the provision of new jetties, quays and slipways; improvements to landing facilities at locks; repairs to a dry dock, and improvements to culverts.

The Barrow Navigation is a river navigation with lateral canals bypassing shoal stretches. It is 69 kilometres long, 17 kilometres in lateral canals, and extends from Athy to St. Mullins, County Carlow below which the river is tidal before entering Waterford harbour. The programme of works is well advanced and includes dredging the navigation and lateral canals; the provision of new landing facilities, moorings, quays and slipways, and the restoration of a dry dock in Graiguenamanagh, County Kilkenny. Some of the finest scenery of any waterway is found along the Barrow Navigation.

The Royal Canal stretches from Spencer Dock on the River Liffey, through the north side of Dublin, to the northern reaches of the Shannon. It is 145 kilometres long. There is a small branch line of eight kilometres to Longford town. Under the operational programme, £7 million is available for restoration. Approximately 80 kilometres are navigable from Dublin to Mullingar, County Westmeath. In Dublin, removal of the low level railway crossing at Newcomen Junction, North Strand Road, will commence shortly and the installation of a new lifting bridge in its place will remove the last remaining obstacle to navigation to and from the River Liffey.

Dredging of the main line is completed. There are three sections where the canal runs through bogs. This year a start was made in repairing the embankments in these areas. The removal of nine culverted road crossings in County Longford and one in County Westmeath which impede navigation must be undertaken. Consultants have submitted preliminary reports setting out various options in terms of the design and cost for six of the bridges in County Longford which the Department is examining. A contract was recently placed for the removal of the culverted road crossing and the raising of the road bridge on the Dublin road in Mullingar and works are under way. When completed next summer, a further 30 kilometres of navigable waterway to Abbeyshrule, County Longford will be available.

My Department has commissioned a firm of consultants to examine the existing water supplies to this canal which are on the low side for navigation purposes and to ascertain where new supplies can be obtained. A programme of lock gate replacement is under way. This should be completed in 1998.

The Shannon Navigation offers some 258 kilometres of cruising waterway through the centre of Ireland. It is a great success story with approximately 550 boats available for hire catering for approximately 50,000 tourists per annum. A number of significant improvements are under way or planned. These include the extension of the navigation from Lough Key along a new canal approximately 1 kilometre long to a point close to Boyle, County Roscommon where a new harbour is to be constructed. The new canal will have ancillary facilities such as mooring, car parking and a shower-toilet block. This project is under way.

In Limerick city the excavation of the Abbey River, the reconstruction of Sarsfield Lock, the construction of a new weir and the provision of floating moorings are planned and work is expected to get under way next year. This project will greatly improve navigation between the freshwater and tidal reaches.

The extension of the Shannon Navigation to the River Suck will allow navigation from the Shannon to Ballinasloe, County Galway. This requires the construction of a new lock in Poolboy, which is well advanced, and the provision of mooring facilities in Ballinasloe.

The Rivers Agency in Northern Ireland, in co-operation with my Department, has commissioned a feasibility study of the possible restoration of the Ulster Canal which would reopen the link between Lough Erne and Lough Neagh. This detailed study will include a full topographical survey; a condition survey of the canal and associated structures; environmental considerations; a water supply and demand study; a navigation study, and a preliminary appraisal of the economics of the options. It is expected that the results of this study will be available in the new year.

Restoration of the Ulster Canal would complete the last major link in the connected waterways network on this island and allow boats to navigate from Waterford estuary in the south east to Coleraine on the River Bann in Northern Ireland. However, any question of its restoration will have to be carefully considered in the context of the results of the feasibility study and, in particular, the major costs which would inevitably arise.

Government policy on our offshore islands is for the first time under the aegis of one Government Department with the islands getting individual mention in the title of my Department. The section of my Department dealing with the islands is being established in na Forbacha, Galway and the process of appointing staff commenced last week. It is my intention, in co-operation with the Minister of State, Deputy Ó Cuív, who has specific responsibility for the islands, to carry out a comprehensive analysis of the access requirements of the inhabited islands. Because of their geographical isolation, island communities are hindered in their development by inadequate and irregular transport services and have to bear higher transport costs. It is the priority of all islands to have a socially desirable year round minimum level of secure transport.

The Minister of State has visited most of the islands and is in the process of analysing the priorities outlined to him during these visits. Access was one of the main issues brought to his attention on each island visited. In consultation with local authorities and other interested parties, it is my intention to draw up a comprehensive five year plan to ensure populated islands, Irish and English speaking, have suitable access. Because a number of organisations are involved in the provision of access services to islands, the strategy in the past has been somewhat fragmented. With overall policy for the islands firmly established in my Department and with the other Departments and organisations involved with island requirements fulfilling their role, I am confident that with the guidance of the Minister of State the problem of access and the associated problem of landing facilities will be satisfactorily addressed during the lifetime of this Government.

Our offshore islands have contributed in no small way to Irish life, particularly in terms of culture, history and language. We have a duty to preserve and promote this unique inheritance. In implementing the action plan for the islands, it is my intention to address the many other issues raised with the Minister of State by islanders during his visits with the priorities identified by the local authorities. As everyone is aware, the Minister of State has an abiding interest in the lives of islanders. He will continue to ensure their voice is heard at the highest level.

Fundamental services such as roads, electricity, water and refuse are essential so that islanders can participate fully in the economic and social life of the nation. Declining population is a major problem for most of our offshore islands. The report of the Interdepartmental Committee on Island Development highlighted a 35 per cent fall in the overall population of our offshore islands between 1961 and 1991. This, coupled with the fact that the average age of the populations on the islands is increasing, has major significance for the economic and social life of our island communities. It also affects the demand for public services such as health and education. It is heartening to note that the 1996 census figures show an increase in the population of some of our offshore islands.

The Minister of State has a particular interest in the matter of health services. He will continue to work with the Department of Health and Children and the health boards to see what can be done to ensure access to health services for islanders at equal cost. He will also pay special attention to the question of education. On 19 September 1997 the Minister for Education and Science announced that the means test associated with the remote area boarding grant for secondary school students was abolished from the commencement of the 1997-98 academic year. In co-operation with the education authorities, every effort will be made to provide education services on islands where the provision of such services is sustainable. I regard the displacement of young children so that they can avail of schooling on the mainland as having a negative effect on the island communities. It is our intention that the Interdepartmental Committee on Island Development will co-ordinate activities pertinent to those Departments represented on it.

The primary purpose of the Bill is to address deficiencies in the powers and functions of the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands which have come to attention over a period of time. My Department is still a relatively new one and it is no surprise, given this fact and the varied nature of its functions, that certain issues require to be addressed in legislation.

I will deal briefly with the main provisions of the Bill. Section 1 provides for a comprehensive definition of inland waterways and a schedule of waterways to which the provisions of the Bill will apply.

Section 2 provides that I may add to, delete from, or amend an entry in respect of an inland waterway in the Schedule, by order, which must be laid before each House of the Oireachtas. Under this section it is open to either House to pass a resolution annulling such order.

Section 3 sets out the powers and functions of the Minister in relation to inland waterways. Section 3(1) provides a broad role for the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands in the management and development of inland waterways. As Minister, my powers and functions in relation to inland waterways are restricted to the Grant Canal, the Royal Canal and the navigation of the Barrow under the Canals Act, l986, to the navigation of the Shannon and Shannon Erne waterway under the Shannon Navigation Act, l990. As Minister I have no statutory role in relation to any other inland waterway and am precluded from involvement in any other.

Section 3(2) provides that I may exercise any of my powers under the Canals Act, l986 and the Shannon Navigation Act, l990 in relation to any inland waterway included in the Schedule but without prejudice to the rights of others under those Acts. For example, this subsection would allow me exercise my powers to enter on any land to carry out works under the Shannon Navigation Act, l990 in relation to the Grand Canal or, should it ever arise, in relation to the Ulster Canal, within this State, or in relation to any other inland waterway which might be added to the Schedule in the future.

Section 3(3) provides that, as Minister, I shall be empowered to carry out works to public roads where such work relates to my functions in respect of inland waterways. I am at present precluded by statute from carrying out works to a public road within the meaning of the Roads Act, l993. In the context of the extensive programme of developmental works under the operational programme to which I referred earlier, this has given rise to some serious problems. For instance, it has emerged that Morans Bridge over the Royal Canal at Mullingar is a public road within the meaning of the Roads Act, l993. Consequently, I am precluded from replacing this bridge — work which is necessary for the restoration of navigation. In addition, the necessary grading required on each side of the new bridge would involve works to a public road. To overcome this problem, officers of the Office of Public Works, who have the necessary legal power under the Commissioners of Public Works (Functions and Powers) Act, l996 are acting as project managers. Similar problems are in prospect in relation to other bridges over the Royal Canal. The provision in this subsection will enable me, as Minister, to arrange for the necessary restoration works to proceed on schedule in the New Year.

Section 4 provides that, as Minister, I may finance the building, acquisition, overhaul or repair of vessels suitable for the operation of ferry services to inhabited offshore islands in the State and to subsidise such services.

At present, under the provisions of the Aran Islands Transport Act, l946, as Minister, I may contract for:

A shipping service available to the public for the transport of passengers and goods for reward between the city of Galway and the Aran Islands.

Beyond that I have no specific power to subsidise ferry services to islands in general. Therefore, this section clarifies the position and will facilitate the implementation of the five-year access plan for the islands to which I referred earlier.

Section 5 sets out my powers and functions in relation to land and other property ancillary to my other functions, including power to acquire an inland waterway, to acquire intellectual property, deal with buildings or other property, either alone or jointly, or through an agent, and provide financial assistance in respect of matters related to my functions.

The Schedule specifies the inland waterways to which the provisions of the Bill apply and includes the Ulster Canal.

Since the publication of this Bill, a technical problem which has arisen vis-a -vis section 10 of the Heritage Act, l995 has been brought to my attention which I shall address by way of amendment on Committee Stage. I recommend the Bill to the House.

I support the Bill and compliment the Minister on its introduction. I also compliment her predecessor, Deputy M. Higgins, on the foundations he laid in this Department. This is a Department whose functions require co-operation across a very broad range of activities with considerable potential benefit for communities throughout the length and breadth of the country. Indeed such co-operation and co-ordination of effort should be the common denominator in any efforts.

I understand this to be an enabling Bill resulting from the Minister's inability, through lack of power, to deal with necessary projects, to exercise her due ministerial right within her Department and the Office of Public Works. I pay tribute to the personnel, in particular, the engineers, of the Office of Public Work. Over the years, this unique State body was frequently the butt of derision in respect of the length of time it normally took to carry out works and so on. Nonetheless, it is fair to say that, by and large, any work it has undertaken, or has been involved in, has been an outstanding success. Therefore, tribute must be paid to its engineers and staff generally in addition to the skills of their officers who engage in restoration works.

I suppose I have a traditional liking for the Office of Public Works since my late father served as a Parliamentary Secretary and was responsible for that Office when, no doubt, I gained an understanding of what was entailed in their responsibilities.

Our inland waterways have enormous potential only now beginning to be realised. That takes me back to my initial point of co-operation being required among agencies, organisations and communities generally. The problem with waterways is that they were always perceived in glorious isolation as an engineering problem not related to the concept of development beyond that.

In my term of office in the Department of Transport and Tourism it became very obvious to me that there is a growing understanding of the potential of the proper development of our inland waterways and its economic impact both in the Republic and Northern Ireland. I worked hard to achieve a considerable degree of cross-Border co-operation so that people, irrespective of their political affiliations or religious beliefs could see that this kind of development had enormous economic potential for the benefit of everybody and that such co-operation was of enormous overall benefit.

Within the statement of strategy in respect of waterways the Minister's remit is to complete the draft legislation for the establishment of an inland waterways navigation authority to complete the programme of restoration and development. Her remit also requires her under the new Operational Programme for Tourism, to facilitate the recreational amenity and tourism usage of inland waterways and, finally, to conserve their industrial heritage and ecology. These are matters only beginning to be understood in terms of their true potential.

Our canals always were perceived as presenting an engineering problem, never as the living line on which communities living adjacent to them focused over many years and from which they derived considerable benefit.

When replying I would like the Minister to spell out the concept, as she perceives it, of the co-operation and relationship obtaining between her Department and various other agencies and organisations which will have an impact on her endeavours. For instance, what is the relationship between her Department and the various fisheries boards? Public money is being pumped into these organisations and money is being raised by various means for the development and promotion of tourism, commercial and competitive angling.

What is the relationship between the Minister's Department and the Central Fisheries Board and the regional fisheries boards? We know that 75 per cent or 80 per cent of British coarse anglers come to Ireland, 65 per cent or 70 per cent of whom return because of the quality of the fishing and their enjoyable experiences here. In that regard, co-operation is necessary.

What is the relationship between the Minister's Department and Bord Fáilte? If the Minister has statutory powers to take over inland waterways, deal with the issue of ferries to islands and so on, has she discussed the implications of that with Bord Fáilte in terms of what it does in respect of international marketing? We are a unique island and a unique people and Ireland is not as environmentally destroyed as many other European countries. That stands to our benefit but co-operation is required as well as the proper use of public money to get the maximum benefit from that type of promotion.

What is the relationship between the Minister's Department and the regional tourism boards which promote facilities in their areas? These boards encourage people to holiday in Ireland, a unique experience they may have bypassed for years. Irish people tend to travel to every country and do not explore their own. To travel the inland waterways or avail of the magnificent lakes in this country is a wonderful experience for those who have never done so. In that respect, co-operation between the Minister's Department and the regional tourism boards is necessary.

What is the relationship between the Minister's Department and local authorities? Local authorities are the primary organ of development in any county and close co-operation in regard to the taking over of waterways, the development of access to islands, etc., between them and the Department is fundamental. Far seeing county managers have great plans for the expansion and use of inland waterways, canals, lakes and offshore islands and in that respect there should be a close working relationship between the Minister's Department and local authorities.

What is the relationship, if any, between the Minister's Department, the Department of Public Enterprise and FÁS? FÁS schemes have been carried out in a number of the communities living along canals and in the vicinity of inland waterways to improve the look of these areas and hopefully encourage tourists to visit them. In that respect the power being conferred on the Minister to provide for these works to be carried out should be exercised in co-operation with local communities.

What is the relationship between the Minister's Department and the Department of Education and Science in regard to this matter? We pride ourselves on our young population and constantly talk about this green island which is environmentally friendly and unpolluted. The inland waterways represent an aspect of ecology which is the responsibility of the Minister to preserve. The school curriculum reflects areas of this in a practical sense. There should be close co-operation between primary and second level schools thereby encouraging children to appreciate, preserve and protect what is left to us in an ecological sense. The preservation of wildlife habitats along the inland waterways should be encouraged also as this wonderful resource is not available to many people in Europe or other countries.

What is the relationship between the Minister's Department and the farming organisations? Many of the inland waterways will be deemed special areas of conservation under the European directive. It is important that the farming community, which is close to the environment and the primary guarantor of its preservation, is included in this. It should be explained to farmers that this power will not interfere with their rights of development and that, within the criteria laid down, everybody will benefit both in respect of preserving the environment and the activities of farmers.

What is the relationship between the Minister's Department and the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform and the Garda Síochána? I understand there is an article in today's edition of The Irish Times to the effect that the canals and the Shannon navigation system may have been used in the past, is being or will be used in the future for the transportation of drugs. The scourge of drugs is an enormous challenge to this country and one many other countries have failed to eliminate. Given the length of our coastline, it is difficult for the Garda to police it effectively. If drugs are being transported on the Shannon navigation system it is obvious that there must be a working relationship between the Minister's Department and the Garda Síochána.

The Grand Canal, the Royal Canal and the Ulster Canal are unique waterways. They are the longest navigable channel in Europe. When replying to Second Stage, I ask the Minister to deal with the proposals that emerged from the studies carried out some years ago on the Royal Canal from Spencer Dock to Allenbridge by Brady Shipman & Martin. I have read some sections of those excellent reports. They lay out the entire strategy and, in an imaginative way, highlight an opportunity that needs to be exploited.

The Grand Canal, which was commenced in 1757, links Dublin to the Shannon, is 169 miles long and flows mostly through agricultural lands and the great bogs of the midlands. From the Lucan Bridge Road its character changes to a suburban canal until it reaches the centre of Dublin. In the book "The Canals of the South of Ireland" by VTH & DR Delany, there is a description of the opening of the Grand Canal which is worth putting on the record. It states:

The opening ceremony was performed on 23 April 1796 by the Lord Lieutenant, the Earl of Camden, attended by Mr Secretary Pelham and his suite. About twenty vessels with barges and pleasure boats followed the viceregal yacht Dorset through the entrance to the docks from the River Liffey. A thousand persons partook of breakfast served in tents, and it was estimated that 150,000 members of the public were present.

I do not know whether the Minister has the intention or the capacity to restore that level of interest in the canal and the inland waterway system but in 1796, 201 years ago, 150,000 people turned up for the opening ceremony of the canal.

The business of the Ulster Canal is of interest to me. I had the opportunity to visit the Ballinamore Canal as Minister for Tourism and Trade. This canal had lain closed and overgrown for almost 60 years. Whatever else is said about the former Taoiseach, Charles Haughey, the restoration of this canal was one of his primary objectives in a cross-Border sense. A year after the Ballinamore canal was opened, 4,000 cruisers passed through the lock. The people who own these cruisers have money to spend and they want to participate in the unique experience of pleasure cruising in Ireland. The Minister should make the opening of the Ulster Canal a focus of her ministry. I appreciate it is a major project and the Minister referred to the study being carried out on it. Money for work on that project would be money well spent. Enough money will be squandered in Northern Ireland on various other projects to cover the cost of this project ten times over. From an island perspective, imagine the selling power of that project. One could travel by way of the canal system from Belfast to Shannon and to Dublin and the south east. This mode of travel has a great following internationally.

I would like discussions not only to take place between the rivers authority in Northern Ireland and the Department but the Minister to take an active interest in this at ministerial level and push for this project to be developed. If she wishes, she could make it a millennium project. Irrespective of political affiliations or religious beliefs, as a cross-Border project it has enormous potential in terms of selling power internationally. This project would provide a unique opportunity to travel on one of the longest inland water systems in the world and the Minister should strongly promote it.

I was impressed by the potential of the Ballinamore canal and the work carried out on it by the Bord of Works, ESB engineers and others involved. When the locks were dismantled and replaced it was evident the engineers who had worked on them 100 years ago had done as good a job as has been done now in terms of the stonework, masonry, the alignment and the configuration. It is not necessary to have broad shoulders to move the gates now, smart cards will do that job now. We can be justly proud of that project.

There is potential on the canals for fishing, sailing, canoeing, swimming, house boats and other activities pursued on inland waterways. Co-operation, proper management, proper use of the moneys allocated and marketing contribute to communities along the canals being able to derive economic benefit, jobs and prospects for the future. Something they turned their backs on for generations can now become a central focus of their lives in an economic and jobs sense.

The book I mentioned by VTH & DR Delany referred to a gigantic engineering failure in the attempt to link Lough Corrib and Lough Mask with what is known as the Cong canal. It is about three miles long, but the fractured limestone in the district led to the water seeping away after the canal was opened and it was never used. A quay side was provided in Ballinrobe and the four locks on the canal were never used. Lough Mask and Lough Corrib are the second and third largest lakes in Ireland. They are our great lakes and are unique waterways. They provide potential for new opportunities. Lough Mask will supply most of County Mayo with water in the next 20 years and Lough Corrib supplies water to Galway and Connemara. I do not know if the Minister is aware of the European Union ECOS overture scheme under which an initiative was proposed in the recent years to address the possibility of reopening and restoring that canal to the point where it could be used. The view is that the moneys spent on canals at that time were diverted into railways and the will did not exist to plug the fractured limestone to facilitate the reopening of the canal. There is a difference in depth of about 36 feet between Lough Mask and Lough Corrib and that would have to be taken into account. Lough Corrib is infested with roach but that is not the case in Lough Mask and that could be dealt with by proper screening and filtration. Provision for that could be included in the Schedule of the Bill. I would like the Minister when she replies to the debate to indicate the status of the ECOS overture initiative in terms of reconnecting the Lough Mask and Lough Corrib canal and perhaps she could give some assistance in that regard.

The Minister's cousin, the Minister of State, has been very active in visiting the islands. A picture of the Minister of State and his driver visiting one of the islands was carried in this week's Mayo News. It is strange that he needed his driver to get to one of the islands. It is good that he has visited most of the islands, but the time for action is now. I understand this Bill was introduced partly because the Minister was constrained in terms of what she could do regarding legislation to deal with the Aran Islands. This Bill gives the Minister great authority. It provides that she may finance the building, acquisition, overhaul or repair of vessels, may subsidise such services and its sets out the functions and powers of the Minister in relation to land and other property as well as her other functions.

I read the comprehensive islands document put forward by the Minister of State which has been accepted as the Government's programme for the islands. The Minister has done well in the Estimates and if she can deliver on this programme over the remainder of her period in office she will do very well. The provision of the islander allowance is something that does not require the powers under this Bill. It is proposed that those islanders in receipt of social welfare are to get an increased allowance because of the cost of living on islands. That is addressed to an extent in the Minister's wish to have proper healthcare and education services and facilities on the islands. One of the outstanding access problems to any island is that which exists on Inishbiggle off Achill, which is one of the only islands that does not have a subsidised or proper ferry service. The former Minister of State, Deputy Carey, who had responsibility for this area under the Department of the Taoiseach did a great deal of work in laying the foundations to deal with such problems and the Minister of State, Deputy Ó Cuív, can build on them and achieve progress. The former Minister of State, Deputy Carey, brought into focus the Gaeltacht and non Gaeltacht islands off our coasts which had been forgotten for so long. He brought them back into a central position.

The powers under this Bill give the Minister the authority to bring the islands into the 21st century in terms of the provision of access and facilities. Having visited the islands I hope the Minister of State has analysed the problems faced by islanders. He said in the Dáil he would make his mind up quickly. There is a good deal of money in the Department of Finance which must be spent this year and decisions made between now and the end of December could have beneficial results. I would like the Minister when replying to this debate to indicate the decision taken by her and the Minister of State on the problem of access to Inishbiggle. Will access be provided by way of ferry, cable car, bridge, aircraft or hovercraft? The Minister of State discussed the options and said he would make up his mind quickly.

There are access problems to other islands off the coast. I assume the reason for including the powers to deal with islands, access to them and island ferries and their subsidisation is because the Minister and the Minister of State want to improve access to our inhabited Gaeltacht and non Gaeltacht islands to ensure they are all treated in the same manner. I would like the Minister to respond to that.

I accept the Minister's reply to a question on 14 October about the future development of the canals system. However, one of the lessons I learned in the short time I was in Government was that when one considers the range of activities with which one must deal and the range of responsibilities one is given as a Minister it is difficult to achieve the progress one would want to achieve unless one defines one's priorities and pursues them in a ministerial sense. This Bill gives the Minister the authority to do a really effective job in providing people with an opportunity to benefit themselves and their communities. I would like to think that the Minister will show a high level of urgency and display ministerial flair in this matter by involving herself at every single opportunity in promoting this kind of benefit. There is an opportunity for this ministry to impact effectively on the lives of communities that have drifted for years.

As regards the ratings of Ministers in this Cabinet, their term in office will not be long passing. I do not know whether it will be a year or two years, that is a matter for the people and probably for Ministers themselves.

A matter for Albert.

It will pass much more quickly than the Minister thinks. She should not believe that by introducing Second Stage of this Bill it will revolutionise the country. There will be many Ministers for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands before the Ulster Canal is open up to Belfast.

The Minister should take that one issue on board and talk to her opposite number in Northern Ireland and the river authorities to make it a central issue of her ministry. In fact the thought crossed my mind of what the former Taoiseach, Éamon de Valera, would have thought of the Minister introducing this Bill and confining herself to the bit of the Ulster Canal that is in this State, when Articles 2 and 3 of the Constitution recognise the entire territory of the island of Ireland.

It is a question of de facto and de jure.

I know that, but I am sure that if he was presenting the Bill he might have had a different version of what the Minister read out.

I was referring to jurisdiction.

I thank the Minister for introducing the Bill. We will deal with this when it comes up on Committee Stage. Its overall impact can be huge, but it requires the co-operation and co-ordination of the various bodies I mentioned. It also requires the Minister to take a really active and responsible role in it. I wish the Minister and her Department well in their endeavours. In so far as we can assist from this side of the House in the promotion of these matters, we will. They are for the benefit of the people and it is important to demonstrate the benefit for them economically, socially and in a community sense.

I also welcome this Bill. which is essentially a piece of housekeeping. I recall having to prepare a Bill like this just before I left office and history intervened to ensure it is being introduced today. I listened with great interest to the Minister and Deputy Kenny. I was particularly moved by Deputy Kenny's suggestion that the Minister's relationship with the Ulster Canal would be something of the order of the relationship of Cleopatra with the Nile, should she be able to secure sufficient funding from the Department of Finance to complete this worthy project.

The Minister said the Department of Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht — which is now the Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands — was established in 1993. The former Roinn na Gaeltachta constituted the core of the new Department, with functions and staff from a number of Departments transferring to form the new Department. That is, indeed, as it was. Apart from this Bill, which is necessary and which I support, the Minister also has my support for the ongoing work of that group of people which was assembled in 1993. I do not have the files in front of me but my best recollection is that in those six weeks when I was Aire na Gaeltachta and based at 1, Grand Canal Street, urlár a cúig, there were about 57 people in the Gaeltacht department at the time, with most of them in Na Forbacha. When the new functions were added there were, if one included outdoor staff, more than 1,700. The figure of 1,763 comes to my mind. I was frequently described as the first Minister with responsibility for empire building.

I never realised that as people change from one side of the Dáil to the other, the language changes as well. I wish the Minister luck with what I still regard as an understaffed Department. A sentence early in the Minister's speech provoked me to remember the facts. It mentions this necessary Department, which I had the honour to serve and the Minister now serves, as being one "with staff from a number of Departments transferring to form the new Department", but not that many transferred. For example, responsibility for arts, culture and film required many initiatives. I remember going on an early inspection to the Department of the Taoiseach after which I am not so sure we left with half a dozen people. Three might have been nearer the mark. In the case of communications, which has responsibility for broadcasting, four people may have transferred.

Long negotiations took place between the Department and the Office of Public Works, an agency that predates the establishment of the State. Each went through an evolving process towards what turned out to be a fruitful working relationship in the new order of things.

I am making these points from a sense of benevolence and to say that the Department was understaffed from the beginning in relation to the transfer functions. Therefore, I was not defending the position with much enthusiasm when the Minister, then in Opposition, used to say there were staffing implications when I introduced legislation. I have become converted to her view. There are staffing implications because — no more than what the Minister said during the debate on the Cultural Institutions Bill concerning the National Library, the National Museum and every other institution for which I had responsibility — what is the point in bringing in legislation unless one has staff? There are serious staff shortages in that Department.

This Bill would have provided an opportunity to restore to the Department its proper title of Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht. When I have tabled questions on this matter, I have frequently suggested that heritage, Oidhreacht in Irish, was an inclusive word and, indeed, it is. The point I made was that Oidhreacht in Irish includes an imaginative inheritance as well as the parkland that one would associate with the big house or the exploitative landed classes of the neighbouring island. In that case Oidhreacht was a wider, richer word than heritage, but I never suggested it encompassed all the territory of culture. Culture includes the contemporary and the future or, to put it another way, the unimagined past and that which has yet to happen. So culture, in that sense, is wider. That is an argument we can have again after an election when new titles of Departments are being allocated.

The suggestion that I attached less importance to culture, because of the distinction I drew between heritage and the fullness of the definition of Oidhreacht in the Strategic Management Initiative, is unworthy. It has now been said three or four times and the next time I intend to go back in detail to the process of writing the Strategic Management Initiative to know whose definitions were being imbued and whose were not. I was not consulted on that point. I would not say this if it had not been mentioned in the House. I consider it unworthy. The point of the matter is that we have a genuine difference of opinion and we can accept that. I claim that culture includes the contemporary and the future. It was a mistake to lose the word culture. The thinking that guides my position on this is accepted by the British Secretary for Culture, Chris Smith, who changed his title from Secretary for the Heritage. It is also the term used in every other member state of the European Union. However, I do not want to become distracted by this point.

I liked the Minister's presentation in terms of the importance of the waterways. I congratulate her on the lengthy but useful description she gave. Waterways have an industrial history and they also tell us about the communities which lived beside them. Waterways were often neglected by our generation. People were not familiar with their history or that of the mills which stood along them. As an island people, we neglected the marine and turned our face from the sea for many reasons, including historical ones. These important canals and waterways are striking features on a map. It was interesting to hear Deputy Kenny's description of the royal personages of the 18th century. We are glad we have moved on from that and I hope we never return.

I will give one example which amplifies what the Minister stated. I recall when the barge restoration project was advertised too many people and communities wanted to become involved. There was no way the demand could be met. I mentioned earlier the problem of establishing a new Department with extensive functions which created great difficulties for many staff. I want to place on record my deep appreciation of the staff who accepted change, particularly when they were understaffed. It is good to see people embracing a new order with enthusiasm.

We should be clear about the people who influence views on the canals and waterways. Mr. Dick Warner, for example, attracted a huge audience with his documentaries and films on the waterways. These programmes have not only been watched repeatedly by people in Ireland but have been sold abroad. I once described Mr. Dick Warner as a floating poet because his work on the subcommittee of the Heritage Council, as a film maker and as someone who uses the waterways of Ireland has been inspirational. Deputy Kenny mentioned others, such as Ms Ruth Delaney. Those who have become involved in the development of waterways are perceived by many as being addicted to it.

It is challenging to think about opening the work which will take place during the lifetime of the operational programmes to schools and communities. Perhaps the most significant development in the general Dublin area was the involvement of communities in terms of working groups in implementing strategies. Letters from cross people who claimed objects were fired at them are not written as often as they were. I believe too much was made of such letters at the time because the Department was in the process of establishing the relationships of which I speak.

While everyone is impressed with the finished work and expertise of the different sections of what was the Office of Public Works, now part of the Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands, and its antiquity should be respected, the procedures and decision making process are archaic. This Bill addresses some of those problems. The idea, for example, that a Minister could negotiate and allocate money for a particular project but would be completely disempowered to spend it, even on an agency basis in some cases, makes no sense at the end of the 20th century.

We should try to emphasise what projects are good and positive. For example, the Minister mentioned Limerick city and the reconstruction of the Sarsfield Lock. That is a striking example of co-operation between a Department, local authority and several other agencies. It is also an example of the people getting treble value for money in co-ordinating the construction of sewerage facilities and water activity expenditure. The community got three or four times more than it would have received without such co-operation.

I am delighted the problems on Inishbiggle will be solved next week because the Minister of State, Deputy Ó Cuív, said he would decide between a hovercraft, a cable car, a boat or a bridge before his next Question Time. I wish the people of Inishbiggle well because they have waited long enough for this. I remember when I was Minister the choice was a cable car or a hovercraft, which had to be tested. In his reply, the Minister of State upbraided me for tabling a question in English about an Irish speaking island. From now on when I speak about the Irish speaking islands, should I follow the injunction of the Minister of State and do so in Irish or should I continue to try to strike a philosophical balance? As I do not share his view on such matters, I thought it would have been better for him to concentrate on the problem of access to the island, with which I am familiar. I know a number of families there who have come back from England. This problem, which was raised in English, will be solved next week.

I rarely ask questions about local issues, but I am not clear about the situation regarding the Eglinton canal. I presume the Minister will not buy it. If she wants to carry out work on Parkaverra Lock and other such areas for which funding was allocated, would that be possible under the changes in the Bill?

I hope this Bill is followed by another one which will give the Minister more flexible powers. I was deeply disappointed with the attempts to reform the Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Act and the strategic management initiative which was dominated by the Department of Finance. In terms of public administrative reform, we should, at the end of this century, move towards giving greater autonomy to the Minister who will, in turn, be accountable to the House. For example, the idea — as a former Minister I will say it in case other Ministers forget to say it or, in expectation of their future preferment, choose not to say it — that I found the business of developing a programme with expert input, establishing timescales and negotiating the money and having to clear every little bit of expenditure, both of a capital and current kind, a completely backbreaking exercise. It made no sense whatever. The ideal would be for the Minister of the day to stand up in the Dáil and take responsibility for expenditure. The Minister should have the power, freedom and flexibility to do that.

Deputies from north of the midlands and Ulster are probably in a better position than anybody to speak about the enormous contribution which the canals can make to their lives, to tourism, the economy and societies.

The procedures are slow. To fire a question here about the mid-term review to concentrate people's minds, while the Minister refers in her speech to a certain expenditure which had been agreed in relation to the different Operational Programmes, how have things come out of the mid-term review? Are we in expectation of the addition of further projects to the general waterways area or will money be taken from some projects? It would be useful if this was mentioned in the Minister's reply.

Maidir leis the hoileáin, aontaím le gach iarracht atá ar siúl chun é a dhéanamh níos éasca do na hoileánaigh bheith i dteangbháil leis an mórthír. Thar na blianta ní raibh daoine sásta leis na háiseanna a bhí ar fáil dóibh ó thaobh cursaí farantóireachta de. Luaigh an Teachta Kenny cupla nithe eile. Tá comhoibriú ag teastáil agus b'fhéidir nach raibh sé ar fáil i gcónaí idir na húdaráis éagsula, ar nós comhairlí contae srl, agus is minic go raibh na Ranna Stáit in iomaíocht lena chéile, Roinn amháin ag déanamh an-obair agus Roinn eile gan a bheith réidh chun tosnú, agus, tar éis cupla bliain, an dara Roinn ag iarraidh rud éigin a chur ar fáil a bheadh i bhfad níos éasca agus níos saoire a chur ar fáil dá mba rud é go raibh an Roinn sin réidh chun tosú ag an am céanna.

With regard to that co-operation in relation to the islands, access is the biggest single issue for islanders. It is valuable that the Minister of State has visited the islands and that he will come up with proposals. I do not understand from the Minister's speech how the balance has been achieved between the Irish and English-speaking islands. I welcome a more sophisticated approach towards the matter, but when I was Minister I recall the Minister of State, Deputy Ó Cuív, asking me about the working language in my office, which was Gaeilge, and the working language at Na Forbacha. I remember him saying to me once, in the course of one of these friendly exchanges between Dáil colleagues, that he had heard English in the background, that he was speaking on the telephone in Irish but English could be heard in the background.

The radio.

We had to go around with a sound detector to ascertain not only that we were doing all our business through the medium of Irish but that there were no external sounds coming in. The point is that if this is the case, one welcomes decentralisation to Na Forbacha. Will all the islands have their welfare discussed? That would be a good thing. Has that policy decision been taken?

In addition, there are other practical issues beyond access about island life which do arise. The Minister rightly addressed one which was very interesting, the importance of people being able to complete their education as close as possible to their community. There are specific requests to the Department and to the Department of Education and Science, where certification goes beyond junior level, to enable the full school cycle to be completed locally. If that is possible, it makes enormous sense. There is a specific request at present in that regard from the Aran Islands.

There are also a definite set of proposals from Dr. Broderick, among others, in relation to medical care on the Aran Islands and the way it might be facilitated. There is another set of proposals in relation to those who were looking for an extension of the regular users' ferry subsidy to take account of air transport, that is, a regular users commitment for islanders. All these measures would improve the quality of life on the islands.

In the health services there is a question beyond that to which I referred in relation to the island doctor. There used be regular representations about the right of people to die on the island with dignity rather than having to move to old people's homes on the mainland. I had the great privilege of knowing a very distinguished Aran Islander and poet, the late Máirtín Ó Direáin. We were friends. He spent about one year at UCG around the time I was on temporary leave from politics. The electorate and I had not renewed our contract in 1977—

Involuntarily.

—so we had the benefit of talking a great deal. He wrote a very beautiful poem Stoite about being torn from an island. The poem is about the fact that he was a civil servant in Dublin and he could never really resow the root of the dockleaf.

For older people, for whom Irish is their first language, there is a very good home in Carraroe, the facilities of which were expanded by the last Government. There is another good one in Clifden, which is a day centre for English speaking people. The provision of care for Irish speaking islanders in their own setting is long overdue.

It is nonsensical in that beautiful part of the country, in which I live and which I represent, that people's names are being translated into English right, left and centre. Minister of State Ó Cuív was a one-man monitor of me in all this when I was Minister but now he has a wonderful chance to straighten it all out. Since he became Minister of State there has not been a marked improvement in the actions of the county council, the corporation, the health board, the ESB or other bodies in treating people as equal citizens. It is all very fine to give a long, boring speech about the importance of the Minister's thinking in all this but implementing it is another matter. I hope something will be done in this regard before more lectures and homilies are delivered to me should I ever have the good fortune to change to the other side of the House.

Deputy Kenny has more than adequately covered some of the other islander issues, particularly how the people are all inspired by the Minister of State having come among them.

Another part of the Minister's speech, which relates to the ownership of intellectual property, is intriguing and I welcome it. I understand that will help in relation to the original legislation in relation to the Arts Council, but it is worthy of expansion by the Minister.

By way of being positive, I want to make a recommendation to the Minister in this regard. I remember looking at a property on which the Department was interested in spending money and upgrading. I want to emphasis that there is no shortage of enthusiasm in local communities in terms of involvement. I mentioned the barge restoration projects already. We went to see the people who had come forward to be involved in these projects in co-operation with FÁS and the idea of giving people back something good was welcomed.

Deputy Dukes has arrived and I must inform him that I found myself in an entirely absurd position because I could not provide adequate help to the Barrow. If this Bill provides such help, that is another reason for supporting it.

I pointed that out to the Deputy on many occasions.

There is no shortage of enthusiasm for good projects. However, there must be co-operation with local groups and educational bodies to develop the community aspect and make the canals part of a heritage approach. The new mindset in the waterways section of the Department has no difficulty in perceiving itself as part of that approach. However, integration is the way forward and a narrow, technical view would represent a retrograde step and be a recipe for disaster. The more such projects enter the public realm, the more people will support them.

There is need for concern about another matter. People sometimes proceed with enthusiasm and begin cleaning waterways without sufficient care. In each instance where the assistance of the Department's waterways section has been sought, it has proven invaluable. Unfortunately, or fortunately, there is now an ecological dimension to our waterways. It is necessary that the ecological balance, not merely in terms of water birds and plant life but of other ecosystems related to the inland waterways, be taken into account. Our inland waterways have an enormous potential for future use. One need only compare the waiting periods for using such amenities in other European countries, such as the Netherlands and England, to the situation in Ireland. However, it is important that the other dimensions to which I referred — I believe they justify the appointment of ecological specialists — be taken into account.

If the Minister wishes to bring forward proposals to introduce further legislation of this sort, contrary to attitudes adopted by people in the past I would support the use of such consultancies as are necessary. It took much time to draft this Bill. For many years, people have been informed that it takes from seven to nine years to train an apprentice draftsperson. It appears that such individuals are grown in one narrow furrow. Legislation cannot be prepared because of the lack of qualified staff, which is nonsense. The Minister should be free to employ consultants to draft the necessary legislation. Even if this were flawed, it could be democratically debated by the House. We should not be forced to wait for housekeeping or management Bills of this kind.

I support the Bill and I wish the Minister well. If it emerges on Committee Stage that the powers involved must be extended, I will support the necessary measures.

I congratulate Deputy de Valera on her appointment as Minister and I wish her well in her Department during the next four and a half years. Likewise, I compliment the Minister of State, Deputy Ó Cuív.

During the lifetime of the previous Dáil, important legislation was put through both Houses by Deputy Michael D. Higgins. The Acts in question added considerably to the legislative base for activities in the areas of arts, culture and heritage. The Minister and her officials are to be complimented on bringing forward this Bill because it represents a further important administrative landmark in the identification, cultivation and preservation of our national heritage.

The establishment of the Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands gives the Government and the Minister the opportunity to address and redress the regional imbalance that has occurred in the establishment of arts, culture and heritage centres throughout Ireland. In that context, I ask the Minister to bear in mind the need to invest, on a regional basis, the substantial Structural Funds that have been made available in recent years to ensure that the regional imbalance in arts infrastructure is redressed and, particularly, to take into account the need for investment in the Border counties.

With the cessation of violence in Northern Ireland, we have an ideal opportunity to strengthen North-South co-operation. Fortunately, there has been considerable co-operation between the Arts Council and its counterpart in Northern Ireland and substantial progress has been made. It is important that common links such as culture and heritage, which are shared by everyone on this island, be given recognition. We must take the opportunity to build on those strengths. In nominating members for appointment to boards and councils under the control of her Department, the Minister should give favourable consideration to people of distinction in the appropriate disciplines from Northern Ireland.

The province of Ulster is endowed with a rich heritage. The first human settlement in Ireland can be traced to 8000 BC at Mount Sandel, County Derry. The Neolithic or new stone age gave rise to the first farmers and traces of their settlements can be found in Counties Tyrone and Limerick

Seamus Caulfield might disagree.

The erection of megalithic tombs in that era gave us the splendid tomb at Cohaw, County Cavan, where extensive and valuable research has been carried out.

As Deputy Michael D. Higgins stated, our schools and educational institutions have a vital role to play in the preservation and nurturing of our heritage and culture. A visit to the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum at Cultra, Hollywood, County Down is a most enlightening and exciting experience. Such visits should be highly recommended to all schools and adults. It would be interesting to know the percentage of schools from the South that have visited that institution. The museum gives major coverage to the history of the flax industry and the general heritage and history of Ulster.

The province of Ulster has numerous and valuable historical societies such as those at Breifne, County Cavan and Farney, County Monaghan and others in Counties Armagh and Donegal. I hope the Department will provide practical assistance to such groups, where necessary, with their publications and take on a co-ordinating role in their work. Those societies are carrying out important work and making an enormous contribution to the preservation of our rich heritage.

The development of county museums has been welcome. The establishment of such a museum at Ballyjamesduff in County Cavan has provided a great boost to the tourism sector and local people interested in revisiting their history. The development of these museums provides a much needed tourism and visitor focus for counties and regions. I pay tribute to Dr. Wallace, Director of the National Museum, and his colleagues for facilitating the transfer of items of local and national importance to Ballyjamesduff so that they could be preserved for the county in a permanent facility. Such items have more meaning and greater historical relevance in that environment than they would elsewhere.

I believe that we require decentralisation. In that context, local authorities and other community groups can play an important role in the care and management of our rich history. My local authority, Cavan County Council, is co-operating with local groups to preserve that history and it has carried out extensive research on the possible development and linkage of monastic sites in Counties Fermanagh and Cavan. The sites in question are St. Mogue's Island, Drumlane and Trinity Island in County Cavan and Boa Island, White Island and Devenish Island in County Fermanagh. The decision to concentrate on island monastic sites will create an alternative tourist amenity based on two central factors, namely, their location on major navigational waterways and their rich historical and archaeological content. The development of this proposal would be an ideal cross-Border project and I hope the Minister, her Department, Bord Fáilte and the Office of Public Works will give it favourable consideration when the disbursement of Structural Funds takes place.

The Government's 1994 national development plan proposed to invest in products for specialist tourists. The monastic island sites proposal has the potential of being marketed towards those specialist visitors. St. Mogue's Island on Templeport Lough has the remains of a 6th century church ruin. The 12th century settlement was established by St. Mogue who received his training at Clonard under St. Finian. The discovery of St. Mogue's shrine was made on this island.

Trinity Island on the shore of Lough Oughter has the remains of the Abbey of the Premonstratensian Canons founded about 1250. The Romanesque doorway in Kilmore Cathedral is thought to have originated on Trinity Island, and there are headstones of note dating from the Middle Ages up to the modern age located on this island. All of this is on part of the waterway which comes under the jurisdiction of the Minister's Department.

The oldest building at Drumlane Abbey is the round tower, with a round-headed doorway and windows. Beside the tower stands a medieval church which is thought to date back to the 13th century. The western doorway preserves some fine stonework with unusual features of Bishops and Abbots of the 15th century. Also included are carvings of a monarch on the outer side of the doors and windows.

Devenish Island is a very important site on lower Lough Erne and the earliest buildings are the church of St. Molaoise, one of the best examples of a round tower in Ireland. A museum was established on this island in 1976 and it preserves many of the stone fragments found on the island.

Boa Island is renowned for its two highly unusual stone carvings found at Caltragh Cemetery on the island. White Island contains the only complete round headed Romanesque doorway surviving in the Six Counties, and it is also well known for its stone figures. An early Christian date has been given to these monuments. One of the central links between these locations is St. Mogue who was born on what is now known as St. Mogue's Island. The saint is linked with Drumlane, and when he attended St. Finian's School at Clonard he befriended St. Molaoise who later moved to the Devenish Island monastery. Similarities can be struck between the round towers at Drumlane and Devenish and artefacts discovered on Devenish have strong similarities with the Romanesque architectural features found at Kilmore Cathedral and which may have originated on Trinity Island.

Presumably, life on these islands varied little due primarily to their common physical location. The common themes should be developed and made available not just as a visitor attraction but also as an enrichment of our own understanding of history. The similarities, and indeed the differences, between the various monastic sites should be an interesting theme to develop and would provide a useful alternative tourism product particularly in the southern part of the province of Ulster.

Some of the islands I have just spoken about are accessible from the restored Ballyconnell-Ballinamore canal, now known as the Erne-Shannon waterway, and the extension of the Erne Navigation southwards from Belturbet to Killykeen to Killeshandra would provide access to Drumlane. This proposal affords an opportunity to increase the range of culture and heritage tourism products within the country, particularly with the development of these monastic sites along the Erne and Lough Oughter complex. Tourism within the Border counties can only benefit from such a development in terms of employment and improved cross-Border relations.

I commend the manager and members of Cavan County Council for their initiative in drafting this proposal. I appeal to the Minister, as I have done in written representations and earlier documentation, to give this proposal the practical financial assistance it needs at this time.

The decision by a Fianna Fáil Government in the late 1980s to restore the Ballyconnell-Ballinamore canal was a courageous and imaginative one. It is paying economic dividends for the local economy in Fermanagh, Leitrim and Cavan. The restoration of this historical amenity and the revitalisation of the 19th century link has created a continuous inland waterway of 875 kilometres, which uniquely enriches this country's tourism potential and provides one of Europe's best leisure amenities. A commercial value can be put on the restored canal, and that can be measured in the number of tourists and weekenders, the number of cabin cruisers provided and the general influx of visitors. However, we should also take into account the fact that the restored Ballyconnell-Ballinamore canal is a fragment of Europe's past and that it is now a living and working piece of the 19th century that has returned to life. Broadly speaking, the cut stone bridges have been preserved with some modification and considerable repair. I pay particular tribute to the Office of Public Works, their engineering and waterways divisions in particular, for the outstanding work they did in preparing for the restoration of that canal. Great credit is due to those officials and to ESB International who did the restoration of the canal. Every element of that reconstruction was organised to ensure the animal, bird, fish, insect and plant life along the derelict canal were preserved in their natural habitats. The cross-Border nature of the project proved that co-operation can be readily achieved between bodies on both sides of the Border.

At this stage I appeal to the Minister to progress another proposal before her Department, that is, the extension of the Erne Navigation southwards from Belturbet to Killykeen Forest Park and Killeshandra. This project would be complementary to the restored Ballyconnell-Ballinamore canal. It would also add considerably to the economic well-being of Killeshandra, Belturbet, Ballyconnell and their hinterlands as well as the southern part of County Fermanagh. In the context of recent political developments on this island I appeal to the Minister to give this project priority in view of its cross-Border nature. The project is worthy of funding and it would be particularly apt to fund it at this time when we are hearing so much about cross-Border co-operation and funding is being made available specifically to strengthen the economy of the Border region that suffered so much for 28 years and more.

I wish to share my time with Deputy Sargent.

I have mixed feelings about welcoming this Bill. While certainly in this legislation starved parliament, since this Government was elected, the presentation of any Government legislation is welcome, I am somewhat disappointed with the contents of this legislation. There is an expectation that when a new Government is elected, it will bring new legislation before the House, that it will have new and imaginative approaches to issues, and initiate some degree of reform. I see no evidence of reform in this Bill. In a way it changes nothing, with the exception of one matter to which I intend to return later. It does a bit of administrative tidying up, but it does not introduce any real reform in terms of our approach to the freshwater resources of this State.

As has been stated by previous speakers, our inland waterways and our freshwater system have been greatly undervalued. We have almost 400,000 acres of lake, almost 90,000 miles of river, and the Minister gave the figures relating to the mileage of canals. They are a hugely important resource. They provide us, in many cases, with our source of fresh water and drinking water, although the question of extraction is a matter for debate. They provide an important inland fisheries resource, navigation, and a method of drainage, however flawed it may be at present in some parts of the country. They are also a source of leisure and they constitute a great ecological richness in themselves. It is indicative of the fragmented way in which we approach fresh water that the Minister in introducing this Bill did not mention pollution, drinking water, fishing or leisure activities such as swimming.

This reflects the confusion and overlapping in regard to the management of freshwater resources. The question of ownership is totally fragmented, the Bill goes part of the way to clarify the ownership of some waterways and gives certain functions to the Department. The Department of the Marine and Natural Resources has responsibility for inland fisheries. This means one arm of the State owns the water, while another arm is responsible for the fish in it. A multiplicity of agencies and Departments have responsibility for the protection of inland waterways. The Department of the Environment and Local Government, local authorities and the Environmental Protection Agency, under the water pollution Acts and the Environmental Protection Agency Act, have particular responsibilities in relation to water pollution and licensing for emissions into water systems. The Department of the Marine and Natural Resources and the fishery boards have certain functions under the fisheries Acts, while the Department of Agriculture and Food has certain functions under REPS. For example, Teagasc has a role in relation to the environmental protection of the waterways.

When there is an environmental incident such as a major fish kill, a multiplicity of agencies and Departments have responsibility and there is no clear focus on how to deal with it. Likewise in the case of flooding, the Minister's Department, local authorities and the Department of the Environment and Local Government have a responsibility, while the Department of Agriculture and Food has a role in so far as run-offs etc., from farms are concerned. When it comes to dealing with how to manage the waterways we have an administrative mess.

There are also conflicts about the use of the waterways which have not been resolved. For example, there is a conflict between navigation and fishing interests. The Minister referred to the extent to which the Shannon system will be opened up to navigation. However, there was no reference to the impact of this on fishing in the river. There are also conflicts between those who want to whiz around on jet skis in lakes and those who want to stand on the bank with a fishing rod. These conflicts will continue to grow as an increasing number of people buy boats and jet skis to use on lakes. There is also an obvious conflict in terms of pollution. It has been suggested that some of the pollution incidents on the Shannon relate to the increased navigational activity. I do not know if this is true and perhaps it could be examined. There is a degree of confusion and lack of co-ordination in regard to every area of activity on waterways. As no one is really in charge there is a degree of neglect. The Bill will not change anything in this respect.

It is a pity we are not debating legislation which would fundamentally change the way we look at fresh water. All the reports published by the United Nations point out that the coming crisis on the globe relates to fresh water. The sources of fresh water are running out, while the quality of drinking water is in decline. I do not have to emphasise the importance of drinking water in terms of our sustainability and health. Fresh drinking water is rapidly becoming a scarce resource. It may not yet be a crisis here but we should make preparation for it. Instead of adding to the titles of Departments it would be better to fundamentally reform the way in which Departments are constituted and on what they focus. The time has come to set up a ministry for water which would be responsible for ensuring the protection of water systems, the provision of fresh and clean drinking water and the management and maintenance of inland waterways. It could also be given overall responsibility for preventing pollution, protecting inland fisheries, etc. This would bring together the resources, energy and commitment within the existing State agencies which have a role in relation to the waterways. This would be real reform and it is the direction in which we should be going.

I draw attention to a specific aspect of the Bill with which I will deal in greater detail on Committee Stage. Section 5 gives the Minister the power to acquire, create, hold, maintain and dispose of land, including an inland waterway. I understand why she is being given the power to acquire, create, hold and maintain inland waterways but why is she being given the power to dispose of them? What canals, rivers or lakes is the Minister contemplating selling? This House should not give her the power to sell off inland waterways in any sense. This is not an abstract issue to raise, particularly in light of the question raised on the Order of Business by Deputy Stagg who drew attention to the plans by the Central Fisheries Board to sell off the fishing rights on several rivers. The Minister needs to quickly address the Government's intentions regarding the possible sale of inland waterways.

The House should not give the Minister the power to sell inland waterways. They are held by the State for all the people and that should remain the position. We should not give the Minister the power to sell the people's heritage.

Ba mhaith liom mo bhuíochas a ghabháil leis an Teachta Gilmore as a chuid ama a roinnt. The Bill is very far from being a substantial one. It may need to be passed by the Houses to enforce the division of responsibilities agreed by the Government parties on the commencement of their term of office but it treats two important aspects of the work of government in an unimaginative way. Administrative control of specified, largely man made, inland waterways and overall management of the ferry services as they operate between inhabited islands and the mainland may not be of relevance to many people or represent a large percentage of the land area of the country but they are areas of responsibility which, if carried out with proper diligence, will greatly enhance our collective quality of life and, hopefully, guard against further loss of life.

The inland waterways as specified in the Bill are few in number. Even in this short list there is a wide divergence in terms of standards. The two large canals, the Grand and Royal Canals, seem to operate a type of aqua apartheid as they weave their way out of Dublin, the Royal Canal being decidedly less regal these days, while the Grand Canal has seen the greater benefit of what passed for renovation work in recent years. Even as these two canals trace their respective routes across the country, restored glories mingle with still tawdry differences. In many cases the good work is largely carried out by concerned people within local communities. Those people often do great work without Government assistance. The Office of Public Works has done itself proud on some stretches of waterway.

On the Ballinamore-Ballyconnell navigation one can see the results of a well structured, Government supported restoration programme. The resources for that project came largely through the good offices of the European Union. The discrepancy between voluntary restoration projects and the golden cow of European regional development funded programmes is not addressed in the Bill. The Bill lacks the vision needed to bring our inland waterways up to a required standard. Responsibility for the Shannon navigation is one of the more curious features of the Bill. The Shannon, one of the mighty rivers of Europe, should be our environmental jewel but instead it has become the receptacle for many of our ecological sins, with effluent from every source, industrial, agricultural and domestic. Lough Derg in particular has become a dying sea. Our acceptance of pollution levels of the Shannon has become so casual that commentators no longer express surprise or shock that communities adjoining the river cannot expect a clean supply of water, as is poignantly the case in Nenagh, County Tipperary.

Under this Bill, the Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands joins the many other Government Departments and State agencies responsible for the Shannon. This multifaceted management approach has created the river's ongoing problems and certainly will not bring about the necessary solutions.

Our island ferry services are, as the late Lord Boyle-Roche would say, a different kettle of bulls' horns. Under the Bill the Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands has responsibility only for ferry services to and from inhabited islands, giving the impression that adequate ferry services already exist. That is patently not the case. There is no provision in the Bill to increase the standard of transport to and from our islands. I have some experience of islands along the west and south-west coast and tá Oileán Reachrainn san Dáil ceantar, Lambay Island. Access to that island is difficult, not because of any decision by the owners of the island but because of the new rules relating to ferries, which were timely, particularly following the Castletownbere tragedy. My last visit to Lambay Island was in 1984. Island life is a unique experience for visitor and inhabitant. While Lambay is a privately owned island, the real owners are the wildlife, which are much tamer and not as threatened as wildlife on the mainland.

Ferry services to our larger islands have improved significantly in recent years. Access to islands with smaller populations is very difficult and safety standards are inadequate, sometimes resulting in unnecessary loss of life. It seems the Minister is not prepared to tell us how she intends to deal, particularly financially, with the problems of island communities. If resources were made available, islands could be provided with modern transport and up-to-date communications, which would banish forever the isolation of island life.

An ideal opportunity was presented on Cape Clear to harness renewable energy but, because of petty political considerations, the system of wind energy operated by computer and linked to a diesel generator was not developed. The people on that island will have to continue to depend on the mainland. Island communities need assistance and it behoves the Government to ensure they have the capabilities to maintain their independence and dignity.

I welcome the opportunity to comment on this Bill. The canal system, which symbolises a much more easy going age, forms part of our industrial heritage. Anybody who followed the leisurely sojourn of Dick Warner through the canals and waterways some time ago on RTÉ will have been saddened by the lack of monitoring of these amenities. I, therefore, commend the Office of Public Works and, more recently, the staff of the Department on making considerable strides in restoring the Royal, Grand and Ballinamore-Ballyconnell canals. I was particularly impressed by the scope of the plan published last year for the upgrading and development of the Grand Canal.

The Royal Canal in my constituency has not been accorded the priority it deserves. Some stretches in the inner city are far from well kept. It is a pity so much debris is allowed accumulate in the canal for long periods. Shopping trolleys, pallets, tyres and other garbage bobbing in the water at Binn's Bridge reflect poorly on the managers of these facilities. With planning, effort and the co-operation and active involvement of local communities, the Royal Canal has enormous potential.

I welcome the Minister's proposal for the removal of the low level railway crossing at Newcomen Junction, North Strand, to be commenced shortly, and its replacement by the installation of a new lifting bridge. That will be of enormous benefit to that part of the city. Much work is needed on the stretch of canal from Finglas via Croke Park to Spencer Dock. That area has enormous potential.

The canal is used extensively by schools, such as Colaiste Eoin in my area in Finglas, to introduce students to canoeing and water sports generally. While the attitude of the authorities to such uses has improved since the days when the canals were under the control of CIE, there is still a tendency by some people to discourage children from using the canals. The area along the canal should be opened up so that facilities such as cycleways and pedestrian trails could be provided in the medium term. The Finglas-Cabra partnership, with the support of the EU Urban Programme, addresses the tourism potential of the Finglas-Cabra area.

The Tolka Valley Committee is working on a plan to develop the river from its source to the sea. Dublin Corporation is doing the groundwork for the making of a special amenity order for the Tolka River and the three local authorities involved, Meath County Council, Fingal County Council and Dublin Corporation, have prepared a water quality management plan for the river. Following the closure of the Dunsink landfill site, a comprehensive development plan has been prepared for the general area. I hope the Minister's Department, as the custodians of the Royal Canal, become active participants in these developments and discussions.

I want to address one or two other issues relevant to the Minister's Department. In recent years the Hugh Lane Gallery at Parnell Square, under the capable and creative directorship of Barbara Dawson, opened its doors to thousands of visitors to the city. The gallery and the nearby Writers' Museum are two sought after tourist destinations—

While I support the Hugh Lane Gallery, it does not remotely come under the provisions of this Bill. I must ask the Deputy to return to the provisions of the Bill.

It relates to matters ancillary to the functions of the Minister's Department.

Acting Chairman

The Bill relates to waterways and islands.

I accept the ruling of the Chair. I welcome the Bill, but much work remains to be done to promote our canals, waterways and islands. It is regrettable that many of our lakes have been allowed to deteriorate significantly. It is long past the stage when our islands should have been integrated into the mainland provisions for society. Many island communities feel extremely isolated. I commend the Minister on the initiatives she announced earlier and compliment her on introducing this enabling legislation.

While the Bill could be regarded as enabling and clarifying, it is regrettable it did not deal with some of the issues to which Deputy Gilmore referred. I had hoped that in dealing with inland waterways the Bill would have resolved some of the turf wars that take place constantly and which in times of crisis make it difficult for the many public authorities to deal effectively with pollution, the more general management of the quality of our inland waterways and other emergencies. It would be unfair to criticise the Minister or her predecessor for having a rather narrow focus in this area, but it is worthwhile recording that an opportunity has been missed to comprehensively clarify the boundaries between the different functions of the various authorities dealing with inland waterways. This is not a criticism of any particular authority. It is, however, a criticism of our system which simply allocates functions and powers to people in a rather unco-ordinated fashion. We should be more concerned about the functions that need to be done rather than those of individual agencies and Departments.

I am delighted some matters have been clarified in the Bill and that the Minister's powers regarding canals, in particular, and the Barrow navigation have been outlined. I hope that clarification and the enabling provisions of the Bill will accelerate the works that need to be done. The Minister referred to the Barrow navigation and correctly spoke of the provision of landing facilities, moorings, quays and slipways. I have the pleasure of having several good friends who recently provided a new slipway on the River Barrow in Athy. They built it in a week and the only funding they received was the amount bet by the President of the Chamber of Commerce who said they would not build it in that time. That slipway will be useful for local young people participating in water sports for the first time. I commend them for their work, but it is a pity they had to do it in that way.

Athy, which has many attractions, has had only one development in terms of services along the Barrow for navigation purposes, the installation of a long overdue sanitary pumping unit for cruisers using the navigation. I am sure the Minister would agree a great deal of work remains to be done to make the Barrow navigation system an important part of our inland waterways. Until this is done, unfortunately, it will be possible for the Minister and her successors to say that this waterway has yet to be discovered by a large number in the boating fraternity and by business interests dedicated to tourism. The reason is that the facilities on the Barrow navigation are not capable of dealing with the volume of waterborne traffic the river and the countryside along it merit.

Our canals are capable of being developed into a significant tourism resource. While developments are taking place, they are being hampered by the lack of infrastructural investment, particularly in the form of slipways, berthage, sanitary facilities and the general cleaning of the waterways. The pace of cleaning operations is incredibly slow. It seems to take forever to clean any stretch of canal and, to put it at its mildest, the pace of work seems to be very relaxed. People living along the system seem to be better informed than those running the operation about the location of vessels with the equipment to cut the weeds but not about the manpower to man them.

The banks of our canals also have a substantial recreational and tourism potential. Our canals traverse the varied countryside of our midlands. For much of their length they traverse the central bog which, contrary to what many people believe, offers a wide diversity of landscape and flora and fauna. The canals are also very varied. In some parts they form a straightforward trench and in others they are raised on an embankment above the level of the surrounding countryside. There are also a number of interesting aqueducts through which canals traverse roads and rivers and many of our bridges are of historical and architectural significance. Some of them must have been pure hell for people who had to carry goods over them in horsedrawn carriages because they are the most humpbacked one could cross in a long day's travel. However, that is part of their charm and of our industrial and commercial history. A great deal of work is required on the embanked sections of our canals and on some of the aqueducts to bring them up to a satisfactory state of repair.

The Minister referred to a number of ongoing works on the improvement of the Grand Canal which need close attention. I am sure we want to avoid a situation such as that of a couple of years ago when a section of an embankment on the Grand Canal simply collapsed and led to the closure of that section of the canal for a considerable time.

The canals are flanked by towpaths, which are included in the definition of the canal as set out in the Bill. I am delighted with that inclusion because I wish the Minister to pay particular attention to the towpaths. They were originally constructed to allow very heavy horses to pull heavily laden barges by the use of tow ropes. In many parts of the country canal towpaths became highways for pedestrians and people travelling on horseback. Many sections of canal bank provided convenient shortcuts for people going about their business. In some parts of the midlands the canal is the shortest distance from one town to another and it is not surprising that the canal banks became well travelled. Even today where there is a roadway running along a canal bank, one can be sure one is taking the shortest route from one town on the canal to the next.

The towpaths are no longer needed for their original purpose. As a result many stretches of canal banks are oases of peace and quiet and many others have become overgrown. Some stretches have fences and barriers of various types where none should exist. There are places where there is a constant battle between the canal authorities and people who live or have property near the canals to prevent those people erecting unauthorised barriers to traffic along the canal banks. It is sad that the canal authorities have been putting up new barriers recently where there were none.

In many cases in the vicinities of towns canal banks have become places where people can walk in comfort and safety. Unfortunately, in some places the banks are so overgrown as to be inaccessible. Many of the towpaths have been designated as part of the walking trails being promoted for the pleasure of walkers and in other areas they have become venues for coarse angling. However, they are not used to their full capacity. Many stretches of canal bank would make ideal ground for horse riding. I speak as somebody who has experience in that regard. I have derived great pleasure from many areas where canal banks provide miles of good, unobstructed ground with a good view of scenery and plenty of space for horse riding.

However, the canal authorities have taken the extraordinary step of banning the use of towpaths for horse riding. The excuse given, which is reasonable in some cases, is that stretches of canal bank frequented by walkers are not suitable for horse riding. This is not true. There are places where the two uses would not mix but that is not to say the banks are unsuitable for horse riding. I have heard it said that stretches of canal bank where anglers are to be found are not suitable for horse riding. As a horseman I consider that patent nonsense. Nobody would ride a horse as near to the bank as one would find an angler sitting.

It is beyond doubt that there are stretches of canal bank which are little used by walkers, anglers or anybody else which would provide ideal ground for riding establishments, bringing Irish people and visitors closer to the countryside. I will illustrate this point from my own experience and in doing so I confess a fault. It is the nearest I will be found to be in flagrante delicto on a canal bank. I have frequently ridden on the banks of the canal between Rathangan and Monasterevin in County Kildare where the authorities do not like horse riding. Indeed, they have busied themselves putting up new barriers. On the many occasions on which I have ridden along both sides of that stretch of the canal, I have only once met a pedestrian — a local farmer. I meet cattle more frequently. On the stretch of the canal in the immediate vicinity of Monasterevin I have often met walkers and sometimes anglers. On the stretch to the south, on both sides of the canal, from Monasterevin to Fisherstown, County Laois, where I have ridden many times, I have never met a pedestrian. Yet, the canal authorities maintain that by riding along those banks I make life difficult for people who want to walk there. This, in places where I have never seen a pedestrian.

To my great regret, repeated representations to the Minister's predecessor and to three previous Ministers of State with responsibility for the Office of Public Works have been met with what I call charitably a blank and uncomprehending refusal to change a policy which seems to have come about because the Office of Public Works won a case in Mullingar in which it wanted to keep a riding establishment off a section of the bank on which it had spent a lot of money to make it suitable for residents who wanted to walk there. That was the right approach in that case. However, they have expanded that victory beyond its proper boundaries.

The matter was not helped by the learned judge in the case who, according to a report in The Irish Times of 16 March 1995, said that allowing people to ride horses along the canal bank would be “.akin to declaring that the public had a right of way on the platform of a railway station, even though they were present for no purpose ancillary to the railway company or its passengers.” That is a judicial gaffe if ever I heard one. To liken the banks of the canals to the platforms of railway stations is to stretch the ingenuity of our revered Judiciary beyond its limits. The judge went on to say, reportedly, that in essence the claim by the operator of the riding centre was “.that there existed a public right of way to persons on horseback along the canal towpath.” He found that the presumption is that there is not such a right of way. That may well be the case. It is within the gift of the Minister to give such a right of way, if she wishes, to allow access to people on horseback for certain stretches of canal.

I hope she will ignore some of the advice received by her predecessors. In a letter to me in November 1994 one of the Minister's predecessors in function, not in office, included in the objections that people in the area of Monasterevin found that the banks were being cut up by horses. The letter indicated that there had been wide consultation with various groups that use the canal banks, one group representing horse riders and all the other groups representing people on foot or in sedentary occupation on the canal banks.

It is no surprise that it was found that the majority of these groups were against horses using the canal and extended that objection to parts of the banks they did not use. Then I was told that in one case a family with several young children was potentially in danger from people riding horses along the canal bank. I know the family well and urged Kildare County Council to build their house on that spot. Whenever I rode along that stretch and the children were around, I made a point of stopping to have a chat with them. There never has been the slightest question of danger because there is a road along that stretch of the canal bank. The children are more at risk from their mother or visitors travelling along there in cars than from people riding horses.

I urge the Minister to rethink this section. If she does not want to take the risk of having too many areas for pedestrians along the bank, then at least sections of canal bank should be made available preferably for horseback riders. I assure the Minister there is plenty of room for everybody on the canal banks, especially for those riding far lighter horses than the ones the banks were originally built to carry. I hope the Minister will listen to this rather more impassioned plea than I am used to making and have second thoughts. I hope she will build a little on the slight encouragement in her charming and somewhat disarming letter of September 12 by announcing at the end of the debate that there is room on the banks of our canals for people who just want to ride through the countryside and admire it from a facility that was put in place for us more than 250 years ago.

While listening to Deputy Dukes I was reminded of the epitaph on the grave of William Butler Yeats —"cast a cold eye on life and on death, horseman pass by". We will have to ensure that is written over the grave of Deputy Dukes when he goes to the other world because I never heard a more impassioned plea on behalf of horsemen.

I welcome the Bill which is a great step forward in allowing for the multi-functional use of canals. I live in Galway city, the Venice of the west, as does the former Minister, and the possibilities for our waterways are limitless.

Ar ndóigh, tá mé anseo dáiríre le freagrachtaí na n-oileán orm, agus cuireann sé áthas orm go bhfuil céim mhór chun tosaigh tógtha — níl ann ach mír bheag amháin sa Bhille — sa mhéid is go bhfuil na cumhachtaí go léir á dtabhairt d'aon Aire amháin chun tabhairt faoi seirbhísí cearta farantóireachta a chur ar fáil do na hoileánaigh.

Is aisteach an rud é gur léir nach bhfuil aon reachtaíocht speisialta ann maidir le seirbhísí go dtí na hoileáin seachas Bille 1946 a bhaineann le seirbhísí go hÁrann. Taispeánann sé seo cé chomh dáiríre is atá an Rialtas seo faoin gceist seo, go bhfuil na cumhachtaí á dtabhairt do Aire anois chun déileáil leis an bhfadhb mhór seo.

Is aisteach an dearcadh a bhíonn ag daoine uaireanta agus iad i bhfad ó na hoileáin faoi chúrsaí ama ar na hoileáin, gur minic a deirtear gur cuma má chaitheann na hoileánaigh lá ag teacht agus lá ag imeacht chun gnó a dhéanamh sa bhaile mór, chun dul ag ospidéal, chun dul ag aturnae nó fiú chun dul ag siopadóireacht. Deir na hoileánaigh i gcónaí go bhfuil an lá sin imithe, go bhfuil míle cúis acu dul go dtí an mórthír agus go dtí an baile mór agus go mba cheart go mbeadh siad in ann é sin a dhéanamh ar an gcaoi chéanna gur féidir le daoine ar an mórthír taisteal: go compordach, go sciobtha, go rialta.

Bíonn fadhbanna go minic ag gasúir na n-oileán. Bíonn orthu dul ag scoileanna cónaí nó chuig gaelscoileanna ar an mórthír, agus ní bhíonn na deiseanna céanna acu a bhíonn ag gasúir eile na tíre, fiú dul abhaile ag an deireadh seachtaine. Tá an Bille seo, ainneoin nach bhfuil ann ach píosa beag, ag tabhairt cumhacht don Aire déileáil leis na fadhbanna seo agus féachaint chuige go gcuirfear na báid ar fáil agus fordheontais, más gá.

Cén fáth nach mbeadh fordheontais ar fáil sa chás seo nuair a chuirtear ar fáil iad maidir le cúrsaí iompair sa chathair seo? Caithfimid a bheith cúramach nuair atáimid ag caint ar fhordheontais gur chun tairbhe an phobail a rachaidh siad sa chéad áit agus ní chun tairbhe lucht soláthar na seirbhíse. Beimid ag díriú air sin,

I am pleased that, as Minister of State, it will fall to me to redress a serious wrong that has been perpetuated over the years. As an Irish speaker who has devoted a large part of his life to the Irish language I never understood why it was considered that non-Irish speaking islands were not entitled to services of equal quality to those on Gaeltacht islands, particularly in terms of the provision of ferry services. Non-Irish speaking islands were at a serious disadvantage. I am pleased the Bill provides the legal means to remedy that and the Government can press forward with plans to ensure all islanders enjoy equality of service.

One of the crazy anomalies of the previous arrangement in place until recent times, was that the Gaeltacht islands were dealt with in terms of transport services, etc., by agencies which used only the English language. Both sets of islanders were wrongly treated — one on the basis of service, the other on the basis of being forced to deal with the State in a language other than their own. I am delighted these matters have been addressed through a series of rapidly taken steps since the Government assumed power. There is a dedicated Irish unit in the Department that can deal with the islanders' questions. The staff are bilingual and can deal with the islanders through whichever language they find most convenient.

We will look forward to that next week.

We have grappled with this problem speedily in providing a level of service that was not available heretofore.

Mar sin cé nach bhfuil ach píosa beag faoi hoileáin sa Bhille seo, is píosa fíorthábhachtach, fíorchumhachtach é a chuireas ar ár gcumas na pleananna ollmhóra atá againn do na hoileáin a chur i gcrích. Is féidir leis an Teachta Kenny a bheith cinnte tar éis mo chuairte ar Inis Bigil — mar a gheall mé dó, chuaigh mé ar cuairt ann — go bhfuiltear ag déanamh scrúdú grinn ar na moltaí éagsúla atá déanta chun teacht thar na fadhbanna atá ag an bpobal sin. Ní thitfidh sé d'aon rialtas eile seachas an rialtas seo na fadhbanna seo a réiteach mar faoin am go nimeoidh muide as rialtas beidh soláthar ceart seirbhíse iompair ann go hInis Bigil.

Dúirt muid go ndéanfadh muid é sin sula dtáinig muid i rialtas. Tá mé á dhearbhú anois agus leis sin ba mhaith liom fáilte a chur roimh an mBille a chuirfidh an deis ar fáil dúinn mórchuid oibre a dhéanamh ar son phobal na n-oileán agus na tíre trí chéile trí na forálacha éagsúla atá ann.

The position of education on the islands is a matter that ought to receive some attention. People who live on islands suffer from an educational point of view. Inhabitants of Inisturk in Clew Bay have to board either in Westport or in Clifden if they wish to attend second level education which is not available on the small islands. This causes difficulties for the families, particularly since there are no boarding schools in the towns concerned. It is necessary for the young people to take lodging in a boarding house and go to school from the house of a stranger. That is not satisfactory from a social point of view.

I have written to the Minister for Education and Science, Deputy Martin, about this matter following a visit to Inisturk during the summer. The techniques of distance learning should be pioneered on the offshore islands. There is an experiment with it at a new third level college at Skibereen. An experiment with distance learning at second level would have considerable potential for the offshore islands to enable young people to stay on the island for the junior cycle or for the first two years of the junior cycle rather than have to board out at the age of 12 to attend a school in Westport or Clifden. I agree that in the long run this is not viable as a means of bringing people up to leaving certificate level, it may not even be viable as a means of bringing people up to junior cert but it should be possible for the first year or two.

A problem is that there is a rigid distinction between primary education and primary teachers and secondary education and secondary teachers. That a primary teacher might supervise a student using distance learning in the first two years of second level would cause some difficulties in this very rigid division in the teaching profession between primary and secondary. I do not underestimate the problems the Minister would have in pioneering distance learning at second level but it is an issue that needs to be tackled. People want to live on the islands but they must have as good or better an education as people living on the mainland.

What about the criteria for a second teacher — not the same on the islands as on the mainland — in respect of which the Department has one rule?

That is probably a better example of the case than the one I have cited. We should recognise we have technological means available to us now, which we did not have five years ago, to solve some of these problems. I urge the Minister to look carefully at this matter so far as the position of the islands is concerned to ensure the provision of second level education is a priority.

I wrote to the Minister for Education and Science, Deputy Martin, and have received a courteous reply but I have not heard that he will do anything about it. Perhaps the Minister will be able to inform me about this matter.

I thank Deputies who have contributed to the debate. It has been useful to hear the different points of view expounded by Deputies. This Bill does not expand policy, rather it deals with the powers and functions of the Minister. It is an enabling Bill. I listened with interest to the different points of view particularly the need for further co-operation and integration of Departments on various issues. We have agencies with great expertise. The Government recognises the tremendous expertise, commitment and work done by the Office of Public Works. The contribution by local communities is important not only to the functioning of the canals but to the history of our industrial heritage along the canals. There is a good relationship with the local communities, as outlined in my opening speech and other examples have been alluded to by other speakers.

The Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands has a close liaison through the regeneration officer with local groups, communities and schools. I concur with the view that local schools should have an opportunity to learn about our canals and their heritage with a view to appreciating, looking after and promoting them in later years.

On the question of co-ordination and co-operation between the various Departments, Deputy Kenny said Bord Fáilte has an important part to play in managing, promoting and marketing our canals. The Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands is attempting to provide that product by means of the renovation projects which are proceeding. The allocation of moneys, not only by this Government but by the previous Government under the leadership of the former Minister, Deputy Michael D. Higgins, shows a strong commitment to our inland waterways. We have alluded not only to their use in terms of tourism but their value to the local ecology.

I acknowledge the role played by FÁS in the promotion of our inland waterways and congratulate all those involved in the various programmes. They have done invaluable work and have made the inland waterways more acceptable to the public and more accessible.

I refer to the new cross-Border initiatives particularly the Ulster canal. I could not agree more with Deputies on the importance of this canal. People interested in inland waterways will be aware a report on the Ulster canal is being drawn up which I expect will be completed shortly. I will be interested to read that feasibility study and from there we can decide how best to proceed. In fairness I will not need any nudging northwards on this or any other project because as stated when I became Minister I have a great interest in seeing what we can do regarding cross-Border projects not only in inland waterways but in the arts generally. There is a tremendous opportunity in the arts area to avoid being party political. The arts can act as a facilitator in bringing groups and organisations together. I hope that will happen during my tenure.

While in the United States recently on business I attended the World Canal Conference as well as an informed conference on inland waterways at which I outlined in a positive light what has been done here and what we intend to do in future. I agreed to host the 2001 conference in association with the Rivers Agency in Northern Ireland. The occasion will present us with an opportunity to enhance knowledge and appreciation of our inland waterways. The association of pleasure craft organisations in Britain is holding its annual general meeting in Dublin this weekend. I am sure the delegates will be enthralled by the facilities which have been provided and the refurbishment works undertaken on our inland waterways.

Deputy Higgins referred to the Eglington Canal which, as he is aware, is owned by the Corrib Navigation Trustees with whom discussions are taking place about the Parkavera Lough project. When I receive more information I will look at the matter in detail to see how the project can be progressed. I will communicate with the Deputy directly.

Deputies Gilmore and Sargent raised the question of pollution and highlighted the importance of clean drinking water and leisure activities such as fishing. As all Deputies will appreciate, this is an enabling Bill. These issues do not fall within the remit of my Department, although I realise their importance. That is not to say we do not have a moral obligation in the broader meaning of the word to push for improvements. I am aware of the difficulties caused by pollution in Lough Derg to which Deputy Sargent referred and have taken the opportunity on several occasions to highlight the issue to find a solution.

Deputy Dukes made representations to me in recent weeks with regard to towpaths. In the days when they had large horses to which he referred they were used for a particular purpose and they did not have to worry about motorbikes or other vehicles. Decisions were made by previous Administrations. I am looking at the matter in detail and will communicate with the Deputy when I have reached a decision. As he will understand, it is not a matter on which decisions can be made lightly.

I urge the Minister to review the matter. I prefer the horse to the Honda.

I will take the Deputy's views into consideration. Although these issues may be regarded as amusing, they are nonetheless serious as we have to ensure the safety of all concerned, particularly pedestrians and fishermen. They have to be considered in detail.

There is need to conduct a detailed study of island life, with particular reference to health and education services. The issue of education services was raised by a number of speakers, including Deputy Bruton. The Minister of State at my Department, Deputy Ó Cúiv, has been and will remain in constant contact with the Minister for Education and Science about the matter.

Inis Biggle was mentioned by Deputy Kenny. He also mentioned it at Question Time recently. I am confident the Minister of State will base his decision on what local people want. He has taken the opportunity to visit all the islanders to seek their views and learn of their difficulties and the issues they want to see resolved. He does not believe a decision should be imposed from Dublin. He has adopted the right approach.

Deputy Gilmore expressed concern that parts of our heritage may be sold off. While I share his concern, it is not the intention to sell off any of our inland waterways. If he wishes to seek further clarification I will be happy to provide it. We will have an opportunity to discuss the matter on Committee Stage.

On the provisions dealing with intellectual property rights, the legal advice available to me is I do not have the power to acquire copyright or intellectual property. We hope to rectify this in the Bill.

Will the Minister respond to the points made about the Cong Canal between the Mask and the Corrib?

As I have not had an opportunity to look at the position in detail I will supply the information to the Deputy in writing.

I thank all Members who participated in this very useful debate. I hope we will have an opportunity of discussing the provisions of this Bill in greater detail on Committee Stage.

Question put and agreed to.

I understand it is proposed to refer this Bill to the Select Committee on Heritage and the Irish Language.

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