Debate contribution: North/South Ministerial Council: Inland Waterways

Debate contribution by Ms Liz Kimmins on 1 July 2025.

MLA

Ms Liz Kimmins

Party at the time

Sinn Féin

Date

1 July 2025

Type

Debate contribution (made as a minister)

Business

Ministerial Statement

Heading

North/South Ministerial Council: Inland Waterways

Assembly identifier

Official Report component 5061152

Read the official Assembly record

Text

With your permission, Mr Speaker, in compliance with section 52 of the NI Act 1998, I will make a statement on the North/South Ministerial Council (NSMC) inland waterways meeting, which was held at the North/South Ministerial Council joint secretariat headquarters in Armagh on 12 May 2025. The Executive were represented by me, as Minister for Infrastructure, and junior Minister Pam Cameron from the Executive Office. The Irish Government were represented by James Browne, Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage. The statement has been agreed with junior Minister Cameron, and I am making it on behalf of both of us. Minister Browne 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 continues to make through its various activities, including the developments that it has made in four strategic projects — the Ulster canal, Carnroe weir, the Tullamore centre of excellence master plan and the Dublin port master plan — and in its major projects, such as Camden lough, Barrow navigation and Connaght harbour. We welcomed the significant developments on the Royal canal greenway and the Grand canal greenway; the completion of an initial public consultation on route options for the Limerick to Scarriff greenway; the roll-out across the organisation of an emergency response service; and the achievement of accreditation to the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) health and safety standard by Waterways Ireland. We also recognised the achievements of Waterways Ireland, which included finishing as a finalist in the category of green public-sector organisation of the year at the Green Awards 2025; being shortlisted at the Public Sector Digital Transformation Awards; winning the large website and overall website categories at the National Digital Awards; and being selected as a United Nations sustainable development goals champion for 2024-25. We welcomed Waterways Ireland's response to climate change, biodiversity and sustainability issues and noted the themes in its 'Heritage and Biodiversity Plan 2030'. We also noted the update from Waterways Ireland on embedding sustainability in the organisation. We approved Waterways Ireland's business plan, recommended budgets and grants for 2025. We noted that the Waterways Ireland's annual reports and accounts for 2023 have been laid before the Northern Ireland Assembly and both Houses of the Oireachtas and that the annual report and accounts for 2024 have been submitted to the Comptrollers and Auditors General in both jurisdictions. We consented to a number of property disposals. We welcomed a presentation from Waterways Ireland that outlined the current position with the Ulster canal restoration project; the completion of the repairs to Carnroe weir; its plans for its current premises in Tullamore; the planned relocation to a purpose-built depot; and its plans for the Grand canal dock and the canals and docklands area of Dublin. We also approved the reappointment of Mr John McDonagh as CEO of Waterways Ireland. Officials from Louth County Council presented to us on the progress that has been achieved on the construction of the Narrow Water bridge, which is located between Cornamucklagh, County Louth, and Warrenpoint, County Down. The Council agreed to hold its next inland waterways meeting in late 2025.

The Ulster canal project is being progressed in three phases, as the Member may be aware. Phase 1, which is the channel from Lough Erne to Castle Saunderson, and phase 2, which goes from Clones to Clonfad, are both now complete and open for navigation. Work on the third and final phase of the Castle Saunderson to Clonfad connection is in progress. Feasibility and pre-construction work, including vesting of lands and renewing planning permission, is under way. Phase 3 is subdivided into four sub-phases, and the current estimated completion date for all sub-phases is 2028-29. I am fully committed to supporting the completion of that very ambitious project, which is transformational to communities and businesses in the region. All funding for the project to date has been provided by the Irish Government, including through the Shared Island Fund, with further commitments in place.

That was not discussed at the meeting per se. We recently launched a transport strategy, and that feeds into that broader piece on what we are looking at with our transport right across the North. It also looks at how we are linked to the rest of the island. That is an important point, and we can look at it in greater detail as we are going through that work. I encourage the Member to feed into the consultation, and that is something that we could point to in the feedback from that.

Quite a significant amount of work has been done with Waterways Ireland. We can talk about the different phases of the plan for the Ulster canal. We have also looked at Waterways Ireland's responsibilities and at what else it does to see whether there is anything that it can do around Lough Neagh. Unfortunately, it does not have responsibility for that at present. We are keen to see what else it can do and what we can keep within its remit, and that is what some of the discussions that we have been having with officials are about. The main focus in the North is on the Ulster canal restoration.

An emergency response concerns the assets that are within the remit of Waterways Ireland and how we can address those as issues arise. We can probably provide more detailed information on that. It was alluded to in the meeting, but I can come back to the Member with more specifics about it, because I think that what it will look like in reality probably is quite technical. I recognise the Member's interest in that service, particularly for our waterways and what it means right across the North.

Again, as it is closely linked to my constituency, I know how important that scheme is. As the Member will know, the Irish Government approved Shared Island funding for the total cost of the project, based on the successful tender, which is €102 million plus VAT. It is being led by the Irish Government and managed by Louth County Council with support from my Department for the connection to the parts of the North that it is relevant to. We had a very comprehensive and detailed presentation from officials from Louth County Council to show the progress to date and where they have got to with it.

The bridge is a major investment in landmark cross-border infrastructure and will provide for car, cycling and pedestrian traffic that connects the north and south of the island. Construction started in May 2024, and the planned completion date is October 2027. It is a 195-metre long cable-stayed structure that will link Omeath on the southern side with Warrenpoint on the northern side. It will help not just economically but from a tourism perspective. The bridge will be maintained by Louth County Council, which will be responsible for the maintenance and operation of the lifting aspect of it. Officials continue to be engaged with the Irish Government and Louth County Council during the construction phase and are also involved in the project oversight group to assist in the successful delivery of the project in connection with the roads network in the North. It is an exciting scheme, and, for those who live close to the area, as the Member will know, it is fantastic to see the construction progressing at such great pace. The bridge presents a real opportunity for us all.

Just to outline the arrangements for the governance of the body, Waterways Ireland is accountable to my Department as well as to the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and the North/South Ministerial Council. Ministers discharge their oversight responsibilities for Waterways Ireland through their respective Departments and the NSMC, and that includes consideration of and agreement on its budget and corporate and business plans in progress to its agreed targets and project milestones. Quarterly monitoring meetings are held, chaired by senior officials from the relevant Departments. The chief executive and appropriate directors from Waterways Ireland attend to account for business performance and corporate governance. It has an independent chair and two external members on its audit committee to ensure that it is also properly audited. On its current accounting position, Waterways Ireland has submitted its annual accounts for 2024 to the Comptroller and Auditor General in both jurisdictions for audit. When those accounts are signed off by the Comptrollers and Auditors General, they will be laid before the Assembly and both Houses of the Oireachtas and then published on the Waterways Ireland website. That demonstrates the layers of governance that are required for its accounts and the processes that have to be gone through to ensure that sign-off.

Both properties approved for disposal are in the South of Ireland. They are a way leave in Ballyconnell, County Cavan, and a way leave at Foigha, County Longford.

Not specific to that issue. There is no statutory navigation authority for Lough Neagh, although councils enforce the rules and regulations in the vicinity of their marinas and facilities. I am happy to take further detailed questions on that issue, if the Member wishes, and maybe we can get responses from those who do have responsibility for that.

Not to date. However, I take the Member's point that that is an important issue, and Fáilte Ireland plays an important role in that, so I am happy to look at that with the Minister and, where relevant, see what we can do to support that.

As I said in response to another Member, there are a number of layers of governance that have to be gone through. I assume that those details will be available when they are ready. There is nothing to suggest that they will not be available as soon as they are ready.

1,643 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Assessment

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Assessed 21 October 2026 at 12:57 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.

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