The Joint Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage resumed its discussion on the proposed Changes to the River Shannon, Grand and Royal Canals, and River Barrow Navigation Bye Laws on January 30 2024. 

The 40-page report, documents the discussions that took place between boating groups, deputies, senators, and Waterways Ireland.  It is worth reading and appreciating the different viewpoints presented.  Here are some extracts that may be of interest. 

  • Waterways Ireland has received registrations for 168 Residential Boats as of Jan 2024.
  • Waterways Ireland ‘want to get to a level where we have 200 sites for houseboats across both navigations’
  • Of the 933 submissions received for Phase 1, 733 were for the Canals and the Barrow, 537 for the Shannon and 337 related to both sets of Bye Laws.
  • It was pointed out that the proposed construction and safety measures on boats and the requirement to have surveys every 5 years was new since Phase 1 was reviewed. (RCD legislation)
  • Lack of pumpout facilities:  ‘Waterways Ireland have a plan to put pumpouts in place.  They will require planning and connection to sewage systems, but we have plans to put them in place in the very near term.’
  • It was stated that the creation of the Suburban Zone for Residential boaters will mean 47% of the boats currently moored between Hazelhatch and Sallins, will no longer be able to buy a permit for this area.
  • The complaint process is – send to Waterways Ireland first, then the Ombudsman and then the Courts. While this process appears to be similar to other government organisations, this was deemed not okay. 
  • There were discussions about means testing and social protection, these are outside the remit of Waterways Ireland.
  • There was some miscommunication about the Bye Laws on the Erne and who would need to pay €40 for the 60-day visitor permit, which was clarified.
  • There was a discussion on Eircodes for serviced jetties, which was clarified.
  • Waterways Ireland ‘propose that in these by-laws there would be a requirement for a certified electrical system, certainly on liveaboards in particular, given those boats are used every day and it is good practice to have certified equipment onboard a boat. Indeed, we are providing in these by-laws that fire extinguishers need to be on board, along with smoke and carbon monoxide alarms.’  (RCD legislation)
  • ………. boats, especially those that are lived on, should have a certified electrical system, but we are not just going to drop a guillotine on day one and say boats need to have it immediately. We are going to allow for a phasing-in. Similarly, holding tanks, for example, are being proposed for boats, but we have to be cognisant that there are older boats and it is going to take time to introduce them. (RCD legislation)
  •  Greenways were mentioned as a ‘route into the city for cyclists, they also offer a real respite for pedestrians and families and people of all ages to get off city streets and busy trafficked areas and be in a calmer and more natural setting. Waterways Ireland has an obligation to protect not just the waterway but also the overall environment and I strongly encourage the organisation to do that. I support the greenways but I do think we need to have it tempered. It cannot just be exploited for commuting purposes as that would be a failure.’
  • Waterways Ireland stated ‘They are shared spaces for walkers, cyclists, families, anglers, and boaters. They are a different kettle of fish to a cycle route that is used as a commuter route to get people from A to B. That is not what out towpaths are designed for’.
  • Waterways Ireland ‘engaged with them (Local Authorities) on a one-to-one level recently, they welcomed our deepened, broadened engagement and the provisions within the by-laws. The Senator is correct; it is important that Waterways Ireland discusses these mat­ters with the local authority members and officials. Not only has Waterways Ireland discussed these matters with the local authorities, but it has reached out to the chambers of commerce, to recreational leisure organisations and to other representatives of boaters.
  •  Without the boats and the canals, greenways are just walks in fields. It is the water beside them that makes greenways attractive and interesting.  J Lawless TD
  • People question why Waterways Ireland develops greenways when it is a navigation authority.  It is our ambition, when people walk or cycle along the waterway, that they might then decide to kayak along the waterway too. When they kayak, they may decide to hire a boat, and when they hire a boat, they may then decide they would like to buy a boat.  E Rowe WI