Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 27 Jan 2000

Vol. 513 No. 2

Written Answers. - Inland Waterways.

Denis Naughten

Ceist:

135 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands the plans, if any, she has to establish a Shannon authority which would have overall responsibility for maintaining water levels on the River Shannon; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2131/00]

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

As the Deputy is aware, Dúchas, the heritage service of my Department, is responsible for navigation on the River Shannon and one of its principal duties is to ensure that there is adequate water depth for the navigation of boats on the system. This activity applies almost exclusively to the cruising season, from mid-March to October, as only a few hundred of the 75,000 boat passages through the locks annually occur during the winter months.

Water levels in the three main lakes on the river – Loughs Allen, Ree and Derg – are controlled by the ESB. Water levels-depths in the river between these lakes are controlled by Dúchas for navigation purposes by means of a series of weirs with sluices.

As the Deputy is also aware, Waterways Ireland, a North-South implementation body for inland waterways, has been established under the British-Irish Agreement. Waterways Ireland has the functions of management, maintenance, development and restoration of the inland navigable waterways system throughout this island, principally for recreational purposes. Waterways Ireland took charge of the Shannon-Erne Waterway on 2 December last and, on 1 April next, will take over the rest of the South's waterways for which Dúchas now has responsibility, namely the Shannon navigation, the Royal and Grand Canals and the Barrow navigation. Waterways Ireland is responsible to the North-South Ministerial Council in which I will participate with my colleague Minister McGimpsey of the Northern Ireland Executive.

The issue of an overall Shannon Authority has to be placed in the context of these North-South arrangements and in the context of the responsibilities of other Ministers. It would be inappropriate of me to comment on this question at this stage.