Ciarán Cuffe
Ceist:419 Mr. Cuffe asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the provisions he has made to protect the Grand Canal from zebra mussels. [13829/03]
Written Answers. - Inland Waterways.
The issue raised by the Deputy about the Grand Canal is the day to day responsibility of Waterways Ireland, a North-South implementation body for inland waterways set up under the British-Irish Agreement signed in March 1999. Waterways Ireland took over the responsibility for the Grand Canal with effect from 1 April 2000 and is responsible for the management, maintenance, development and restoration of the inland navigable waterways system throughout Ireland, principally for recreational purposes.
I understand from Waterways Ireland that the first appearance of the zebra mussel in Ireland was in the Shannon in the mid-1990s and in the Grand Canal in 1998. I am advised by Waterways Ireland that no sustainable method of preventing the spread of the species has been identified to date. However, the issue is being kept under constant review by that body.