601. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when he last met the CEO of Waterways Ireland; and the issues discussed. [44847/24]

I last met the CEO of Waterways Ireland at the twenty-ninth North South Ministerial Council Inland Waterways Sectoral meeting which was held at the Canal Stores, Clones, County Monaghan on 19 June 2024. The meeting was attended by myself, my colleague Malcolm Noonan TD, Minister of State with responsibility for Nature, Heritage and Electoral Reform, John O’Dowd MLA, Minister for Infrastructure and Pam Cameron MLA, Junior Minister at the Executive Office. Minister O’Dowd chaired the meeting.

After each Sectoral meeting, the Council issues a Joint Communiqué to inform the media and the general public about what was discussed and agreed at the meeting. The Joint Communiqué for the twenty-ninth North South Ministerial Council Inland Waterways meeting is available on the website of the North South Ministerial Council at www.northsouthministerialcouncil.org/publications/inland-waterways-joint-communique-19-june-2024 .

The Sectoral meeting was followed by an event to mark the completion of Phase 2 of the Ulster Canal restoration, on the same day also at the Canal Stores in Clones.

Senior officials of my Department are in touch several times weekly with the CEO and his senior management team and keep me briefed fully on all developments.