Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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10. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will provide an update on the review to the draft canal by-laws to incorporate the recently completed public consultation process; the number of submissions received; the way the concerns raised will be addressed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10727/14]

Anthony Lawlor (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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11. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will provide an update on the review to the draft canal by-laws taking into account that the public submission process was recently closed; the number of submissions that were received; when he expects the review to be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10741/14]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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28. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he has studied the submission received from traditional canal dwellers and recreational users of the canals encompassing their strong objection to proposals to increase dramatically and prohibitively the charges for use of the canals to such an extent as to make it virtually impossible for them to afford to use the canal system for residential or navigational purposes; if his attention has been drawn to their general acceptance of the concept of regulation but in a structure within which they can continue as per their tradition; if he will arrange to meet with a representative delegation from the group at an early date to discuss the issue having particular regard to the fact that in large measure restoration of the canal system was undertaken by local community and voluntary effort; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10696/14]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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163. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he has studied the submission from the traditional canal users and canal dwellers in County Kildare with particular reference to the likely punitive impact of the proposed new by-laws on them; if he expects to be in position to meet with representatives of the group at an early date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11479/14]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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164. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if his attention has been drawn to the likely dramatic increase in the fees chargeable by Waterways Ireland to canal users and canal dwellers under the proposed new by-laws with particular reference to the fact that moorings of a shorter long-term nature may no longer be feasible for those using the canals; if he will intervene in order to ensure that the by-laws as now proposed are not implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11480/14]

Anthony Lawlor (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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I welcome the Minister. Deputy Martin Heydon and Deputy Bernard J. Durkan have met boat dwellers on the canals. We are anxious to get a resolution to the issue. The proposals as put forward by Waterways Ireland were not acceptable from a financial point of view and from the perspective of the boat dwellers staying in situ. They were not suitable at all. I hope the Minister will come forward with proposals that will be acceptable to all sides.

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 10, 11, 28, 163 and 164 together.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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Sorry, Minister, we have a problem here that has to go before the Committee on Procedure and Privileges. Many of the Deputies whose questions are tabled are not present, therefore, they cannot be taken. Only Deputies who are present in the Chamber can take the question because it affects the time allocated for the questions and it is unfair to other Deputies. Deputy Martin Heydon has just arrived and Deputy Kevin Humphreys.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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There are three questions in my name.

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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Did Deputy Kevin Humphreys have a previous question?

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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My Question No. 17 was grouped with Question No. 8.

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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May we go back to Question No. 8?

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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No, sorry. Only one person has the 30 seconds to introduce the question. I invite the Minister to proceed.

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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The public consultation undertaken by Waterways Ireland on the proposed by-laws governing the Grand Canal, the Royal Canal and the Barrow system concluded on 3 February, in line with the relevant legislation which provides for a 21-day consultation period. I am informed by Waterways Ireland that the main stakeholders were contacted individually and invited to meet with the Chief Executive and the senior management team of Waterways Ireland prior to submitting their views. I am also advised that all current permit holders on the three waterways, including traditional canal users and canal dwellers in County Kildare, received individual written notice and were given the opportunity to respond within the statutory consultation timeframe on an individual basis.

I understand that more than 2,000 submissions were made in the course of the public consultation process, all of which were submitted directly to Waterways Ireland as the body responsible for conducting the consultation process. Waterways Ireland is now giving full and careful consideration to all of these submissions, following which it will prepare a report setting out its proposed approach, including any revisions it may wish to make to its original proposals. The report will be submitted to my Department and will then be referred to me, with recommendations for consideration and final decision. I have not set a deadline for the completion of this process in order to ensure that the issues raised in submissions are fully considered.

I welcome the assertion of Deputy Durkan that there is general acceptance of the concept of regulation of the use of canals. The proposed new by-laws provide for the management of house boats, extended moorings and residential moorings. An annual houseboat mooring permit will be required for a houseboat not navigating or continuously cruising the canals. The permit will allow the use of a mooring identified by Waterways Ireland on the canals where the houseboat may moor for more than five days and up to one year. The proposed by-laws will also modernise the charging regime which has remained unchanged for almost a quarter of a century.

The proposed by-laws are intended to support the investment already made by Waterways Ireland in new infrastructure and facilities along the Grand and Royal Canals and the Barrow system. They will enable Waterways Ireland to develop the canals as a vibrant recreational and tourist amenity for all waterway users, including those who use the canals for residential purposes, and will help create and develop the canals into a waterways system that is modern and fit for purpose.

The final consultation report will be made available on the Waterways Ireland website. Also, as I indicated during a debate in Seanad Éireann on Wednesday, 26 February 2014, I will afford interested Deputies and Senators an opportunity to discuss the proposals with me prior to making a final decision on the new by-laws.

Anthony Lawlor (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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I welcome the Minister's response. It is noteworthy that there were more than 2,000 submissions. I gather that most of those people have attended a number of meetings in my constituency where there are two canals and the Barrow system. Whether the bulk of the submissions are in favour of an increase in the rate or in favour of some of the proposed regulations, the scale of what is being proposed is making the boat dwellers and users of the canals very nervous. I welcome the fact that the Minister will have further discussions when the recommendations have been forwarded to him by Waterways Ireland. I look forward to discussing the issue further with the Minister at that time.

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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I am aware Deputy Anthony Lawlor has a personal interest in this matter and has raised it with me on a number of occasions.

As promised, I will come back to the Deputies and Senators who have expressed an interest before I make a final decision. Eventually, I will get the proposals from Waterways Ireland and my Department. I will discuss the sensitivities involved and the effect this will have on canal users.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Based on the Minister's comprehensive reply, the proposed charges will result in a €1,000 or €1,500 increase. The canal restoration that has taken place over the past 50 years was largely done through voluntary effort. While Waterways Ireland has an involvement in upgrading the canals, and it has a responsibility that we all respect, cognisance should be taken of the huge voluntary effort in the restoration of the canals. It would be grossly unfair to penalise people who, having made a voluntary effort, are now using the canals for leisure and residential purposes. Perhaps the Minister can take particular interest in ensuring charges are reduced to something manageable.

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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The concerns expressed by Deputy Durkan are expressed in the submissions made to Waterways Ireland. Hopefully, what will be proposed will take into account concerns expressed by Deputies on all sides. Before I reach a final decision, I will consult with Deputies on all sides to ensure that what is proposed is reasonable and workable. It must also capitalise on the major investment made by Waterways Ireland in our canal system of 1,000 km. Waterways Ireland is a vibrant cross-Border body. It is one of the benefits of the Good Friday Agreement and it really works. It has proven itself from a tourist point of view. Many of the canals go through isolated rural areas and it brings life into those areas. We should try to facilitate that investment through proper but reasonable regulation.

Anthony Lawlor (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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I am happy with the Minister's response.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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I relayed a copy of the submissions to the Minister and my colleagues have done likewise. Has the Minister studied the submissions with a view to meeting a delegation of representative groups before any decision is made?

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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Waterways Ireland is receiving submissions and I have received copies of some of them. There is a common trend going through the submissions. Waterways Ireland deals with people out there and the commitment I am giving is that I will talk to Deputies and Senators from all parties who are interested in the topic. I cannot reopen the consultative process by meeting different groups. That is the business and responsibility of Waterways Ireland. As promised, I will meet Deputies and Senators.

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Minister for the commitment to come back and talk to us about this. I also welcome the fact that Waterways Ireland is committed to further developing our inland waterways. Those in County Kildare know the importance of the River Barrow, the River Liffey, the Grand Canal and the Royal Canal. I welcome the fact that the current proposals include proper concessions for tourists who use waterways. It is intolerable that indigenous users of the waterways will be penalised in the way Waterways Ireland proposes. The structure and the scale of the fee increases envisaged will render the whole project untenable. Indigenous users will be taken off the waterways. It is not the objective of the Minister, nor is it the objective of Members. We must do something about it quickly.

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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I am aware that a number of people reside on canals and use them as a home. It is a very important consideration and we do not want to push the fee to a level at which it is no longer economical to reside on the canals. That must be taken into consideration. I take the points raised on board.