Debate contribution: North/South Ministerial Council: Inland Waterways

Debate contribution by Mr John O'Dowd on 2 July 2024.

MLA

Mr John O'Dowd

Party at the time

Sinn Féin

Date

2 July 2024

Type

Debate contribution (made as a minister)

Business

Ministerial Statements

Heading

North/South Ministerial Council: Inland Waterways

Assembly identifier

Official Report component 4528784

Read the official Assembly record

Text

Apologies, Mr Deputy Speaker. I will be with you in one moment. With your permission, Mr Deputy Speaker, I will make a statement, in compliance with section 52 of the NI Act 1998, on the North/South Ministerial Council (NSMC) meeting in inland waterways sectoral format, which was held in the Ulster Canal Stores in Clones, County Monaghan, on 19 June 2024. The Executive were represented by me, as the Minister for Infrastructure, and by junior Minister Pam Cameron. The Irish Government were represented by Darragh O'Brien TD, the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, and Malcolm Noonan TD, the Minister of State with responsibility for nature, heritage and electoral reform. The statement has been agreed with junior Minister Cameron, and I am making it on behalf of us both. I chaired the meeting, and the following is a note of what was discussed. We welcomed the achievements of Waterways Ireland since the previous meeting and the valuable contribution that it makes through its various activities, including the launch of Waterways Ireland's 10-year plan; its digital transformation programme; its nomination for various awards, including in the green public-sector organisation of the year category at the Green Awards; the success of the Royal canal greenway and the ongoing work on the Grand canal greenway and the Ulster canal greenway; the progression of major projects, such as the Barrow navigation, Tullamore harbour and depot, Camden lock and Connaught harbour; the ongoing rehabilitation of Carnroe weir on the lower Bann; the delivery of phase 2 of the Ulster canal restoration project; Waterways Ireland's involvement in the development of the Shannon tourism master plan and the Erne visitor experience development programme; the development of its asset management programme; its business continuity framework; its emergency response plan; the implementation of its health and safety programme and pursuit of ISO 45001 accreditation; the introduction of a hybrid working policy; the launch of its people strategy; and the filling of key posts to enable the organisation to fulfil its statutory remit. We welcomed Waterways Ireland's response to climate change, biodiversity and sustainability issues, how it has resourced itself and built capacity to enable success in addressing climate change and biodiversity loss, and how it seeks to drive cultural change by embedding sustainability in the organisation. We approved Waterways Ireland's corporate plan for 2023-25 and the business plans, budgets and grants for 2022, 2023 and 2024. We noted that the Waterways Ireland annual reports and accounts for 2021 and 2022 have been laid before the Northern Ireland Assembly and both Houses of the Oireachtas and that the annual report and accounts for 2023 have been submitted to the Comptrollers and Auditors General in both jurisdictions and, following certification, will be laid before the Assembly and both Houses of the Oireachtas. We noted the proposed updating by Waterways Ireland of the Shannon navigation by-laws and the canals by-laws, which involved extensive stakeholder engagement. We also noted that the body is in the process of reviewing submissions received as part of the consultation process. We noted that the terms of reference for an independent organisational review of Waterways Ireland have been approved by the Finance Ministers and that an update on the position of the review will be provided at a future meeting. We consented to a number of property disposals and acquisitions. We noted the progress achieved on the restoration of the Ulster canal and the plans for phase 3 of its restoration from Castle Saunderson to Clonfad.

We welcomed additional funding of €80 million for phase 3 of the project from the Government of Ireland and noted an event to mark completion by Waterways Ireland of phase 2 of the Ulster canal restoration project, which took place later that day at Clones marina in County Monaghan. We welcomed the commencement of construction of the Narrow Water bridge, which was marked at an event in June that I attended, as Minister for Infrastructure, with the Taoiseach, the Tánaiste and the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage. We welcomed the fact that the Government of Ireland approved funding from the Shared Island Fund for the total cost of the project based on the successful tender price of €102 million plus VAT. The bridge is a major investment and a landmark piece of cross-border infrastructure. It will provide for cars, cycle and pedestrian traffic by connecting the A2 Newry to Warrenpoint dual carriageway in County Down with the R173 Omeath in County Louth. The NSMC also noted the significant benefits the bridge will bring by better connecting both jurisdictions and developing sustainable tourism in the east border region. The Council agreed to hold its next inland waterways meeting in late 2024. That concludes my statement on the inland waterways sectoral meeting.

It did not feature at the most recent meeting, but the Member is absolutely correct: it is under review, and it is being looked at by the secretariat. A report will be brought to a future NSMC meeting on that matter.

832 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Assessment

Not flagged

Jev’s structured answers

Assessed 21 October 2026 at 10:55 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.

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