COUNCILLOR KIERAN BINCHY
To ask the Manager if Dublin City Council has any role in the planning, funding or management of the berths in Grand Canal Dock (the Bolands Mill side), what is being done to ensure that they are available to houseboats, and whether he accepts the statement (see details below) which states that works by Dublin City Council are partly to blame for the delay in making them available.
Details: Written answers – Tuesday, 13 October 2009
Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs
Inland Waterways
12:00 pm
Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
Question 300: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs his policy on the use and management of houseboats on the inland waterways, in particular on the Grand Canal Dock, Dublin 4; if he is liaising with Waterways Ireland on this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35672/09]
Éamon Ó Cuív (Minister, Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs; Galway West, Fianna Fail)
I have been informed by Waterways Ireland, which has responsibility for the management, maintenance, development and restoration of the inland waterways, that it is finalising a draft Houseboat Policy that will determine how the Body will regulate and manage recognised houseboats on its navigations.
Shannon Harbour is under consideration as a pilot location for designated houseboats (subject to planning), as part of major ongoing and planned regeneration works in the area. On completion of the pilot houseboat project and assessment of the outcomes, it is intended to roll out the implementation of the Houseboat Policy across the navigational network, subject to demand and resources being available.
Boat access to Grand Canal Dock for mooring purposes is suspended at present, due to a number of ongoing and planned major infrastructural improvements, including structural repairs to the dock walls within the inner and outer basins and the extension of a surface water outfall pipeline through Grand Canal Dock by Dublin City Council. Until these works have been completed and the appropriate planning approvals received, I am advised that houseboats cannot be accommodated in Grand Canal Dock.
CITY MANAGER’S REPLY:
The City Council has no role in the planning, funding or management of berths in Grand Canal Dock.
On completion of the Needs Assessment for the 2010 – 2012 Water Services Investment Programme, the scheme for the construction of a surface water outfall pipeline through Grand Canal Dock was ranked as Priority 6 under Category 3 Environment/Public Health Objectives (eg arising from compliance with Water Framework Directive requirements, Regulations and EPA Reports dealing with drinking water standards, wastewater treatment standards, authorisation of wastewater discharges, bathing water standards etc). In the resultant WSIP 2010 – 2012, the Scheme is listed at “Planning Stage” as “GDRDP: Grand Canal Surface Water Outfall”.
The scheme has not been approved by the DECLG to advance to a construction contract until after the current WSIP has expired, i.e. after 2012.
