Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 29 Sep 1999

Vol. 508 No. 1

Written Answers. - Inland Waterways.

Willie Penrose

Ceist:

709 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands if the appropriate finance will be provided through the national development plan to allow the Office of Public Works to complete the restoration works required to make the Royal Canal fully navigable in a westward direction from Abbeyshrule to Clondra in County Longford in view of the fact this is a major tourist amenity; and if she will make a statement outlining the full costs involved for this work and the timetable involved. [17627/99]

Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands (Miss de Valera):

Completion of the restoration of the Royal Canal is one of the projects I hope can be included in the national development plan. However, as the plan has not yet been finalised, I am not in a position to give a commitment in relation to the project in question or any other project at this time.

The preliminary estimate of the cost of completion of restoration of the Royal Canal is of the order of £10 million and £12 million and the timescale involved would be four to five years.