Vol. 554 No. 5
1619 Mr. Cuffe asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the minimum water requirement, which keeps the water levels in the Grand Canal including the Barrow Line, County Kildare, at the certified levels, from the Milltown feeder. [16243/02]
The issue raised by the Deputy in relation to the Grand Canal is the day-to-day responsibility of Waterways Ireland. This is a North-South implementation body for inland waterways and it was set up under the British-Irish Agreement signed in March 1999.
Waterways Ireland has informed me that the minimum water requirement from the Milltown feeder is that which maintains navigation level at the top rail of the breast gates of the lock. If more water than necessary enters the system it overflows the breast gate onto the next level. If there is insufficient water to keep levels at top rail pumping from the River Liffey at Leinster Aqueduct is required to maintain levels.
