Written answer
Waterways Issues
The 2015 review incurred no significant external costs, but after being deferred, it requires a targeted new consultation because the earlier views are outdated.
599. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the cost to date of developing the Lough Erne by-laws, including the cost of the 2015 public consultation that could not be relied upon; and the reason a new consultation was required. [74000/26]
Comment on this
In 2015, Waterways Ireland commenced a review of the Lough Erne Bye-Laws and undertook a public consultation process. As this work was carried out largely in-house, no significant external costs were incurred.
Subsequently, with the commencement of the review of the Shannon and Canal Bye-Laws, a decision was taken to defer the revision of the Lough Erne Bye-Laws until the updated Shannon and Canal Bye-Laws had been finalised and brought into force.
Given the passage of time since the 2015 consultation, the Department for Infrastructure (NI) advised Waterways Ireland that the views obtained at that time can no longer be relied upon as the sole basis for progressing revised Erne Bye-Laws. Accordingly, a further targeted consultation process will be required to supplement the previous engagement.