417. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the current enforcement powers and legal tools, in his Department or related semi-State bodies, which can be used to tackle and seize abandoned or derelict vessels on inland waterways; his Department’s plans to measure the scale and scope of this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46959/26]

Waterways Ireland is a North South Implementation Body established under the British Irish Agreement of 10 April 1998. It is funded by my Department and the Department for Infrastructure in Northern Ireland and is the cross-border navigational authority responsible for the management, maintenance, development and promotion of over 1000 km of inland navigable waterways, principally for recreational purposes.

The waterways under its remit are the Shannon Navigation, Shannon Erne Waterway, Erne System, Lower Bann Navigation, Royal Canal, Grand Canal and Barrow Navigation.

The Canals Bye Laws 1988 and the Shannon Navigation Bye Laws 1992 provide Waterways Ireland with the powers to remove boats, vessels and other structures from their property which includes relevant navigations and land assets. Waterways Ireland is currently preparing Bye Law revisions to improve the management of its navigations.

The detailed information requested in relation to the plans by Waterways Ireland to measure the scale and scope of this issue is not held in my Department. However, arrangements have been put in place by all bodies under the aegis of my Department to facilitate the provision of information directly to members of the Oireachtas. This provides a speedy, efficient and cost-effective system to address queries directly to the relevant bodies. The contact email address for Waterways Ireland is oireachtas@waterwaysireland.org