Waterways Ireland Largest of the six North/South Implementation Bodies Statutory Function Manage, Maintain, Develop and Promote the Inland Navigable Waterways principally for Recreational Purposes
1,000 KM OF WATERWAY 420 KM OF TOWPATH SEVEN NAVIGATIONS 175 LOCKS & CHAMBERS 360 BRIDGES 1,200 HERITAGE STRUCTURES 13,900 M OF MOORINGS
Our Goal... - Deliver World Class Waterway Corridors & Increase Use - Create job, support business delivery - Sustain their unique built and natural heritage 3
Challenges Declining Resources Weather Invasive Species Aging & Historic Estate infrastructure failure Bye-Laws Water Quality & Supply Designated Lands
How Have We Responded to these Challenges? Used capital funding for repairs and replacement New embankment constructed in Cloonlara
Lock gate Manufacture & Replacement: Installation at Roosky Lock
Embankment repair completed in Feb '18 along the Lough Allen canal
Reduce Costs Fixed overheads reduced by 50% from 2013 Seasonal business staff nos: 319 Reduced Senior Management Team Use of technology internet to carry calls - 100k per annum Match service to use Lockkeepers Agreement - 180k per annum Closed services in Winter
Earn Income Goal to earn ongoing income stream on each waterway Operating licences - 100k Develop towpaths, ducting to carry services - 86k per annum Charge 3 rd parties for temporary use of our land, eg site office, 3 car parking spaces 24.5k per annum Sell airspace, eg Grand Canal Dock - 1.5m Rent land and buildings - 160k Let office space in HQ - 45k each year
Use 3 rd Party Funding to Support Development Royal Canal Towpath Development - 3.73 m Dept of Tourism & Sport and Local Authority funding
Fáilte Ireland Strategic Partnership 75% funded Key project development; - Shannon Masterplan - Dublin City Canals Greenway - Tourism Masterplan for Grand Canal Dock
Shannon Blueway Acres Lake Boardwalk - 500k Rural Recreation Scheme
Goal... Increase Use by 5% annually by local communities Paddles Up Blueway 10k Open Water Swimming
Increase Use By attracting new visitors Changes in how people spend their leisure time - Activity tourism New Products & Markets Blueways Sports Tourism Heritage Trail Motor home facilities based at existing harbours and amenity sites Redevelop key sites Tullamore/Mullingar Harbours
Tullamore Harbour
Key Priorities Complete Linear Trails along all our towpaths
Blueways development is a partnership presenting the waterways new users walking, cycling, mapped trails, activity providers, local authorities and local communities. Shannon Blueway Opened 2014 100k users bringing 4m to local economy Acres lake Boardwalk Shannon-Erne Blueway Opened 2016 Lough Derg Blueway Opened 2018
Demand for Outdoor Recreation Activity Tourism is Big Business Core Potential = taken activity holiday in last 2 years and would consider taking a holiday in Ireland in next 3 years Strong Potential interest within the key markets: Walking 34 million Cycling 20 million Watersports 17 million If we attract only 5% - additional 1bn of tourist revenue
Develop an Inland Waterways Spiritual Trail Inland waterways were once a great highway for pilgrims in Ireland An ancient spiritual route exists from the Shannon Navigation to Lough Erne and beyond to Lough Derg in Co Donegal 13 Local Action Groups and Local Authorities, Fáilte Ireland, Built Heritage LAG Co-ordination Project
Ulster Canal 76 km in length Wattle Bridge on the River Finn to Charlemont on the River Blackwater
Ulster Canal New extension navigation Lough Erne to Castle Saunderson - Complete
Ulster Canal Greenway Waterways Ireland lead development of a greenway linking the Erne System at Castlesaunderson to the River Blackwater at Charlemont and following the line of the Ulster Canal - Approved by NSMC on 10 th June 2015
Ulster Canal Greenway 4.95m Interreg Sustainable Transport to fund 22 km of towpath along Route of Ulster Canal Middletown Smithborough Monaghan Due to complete in 2021
From this to this
Grand Canal Dock & Spencer Dock, Dublin To create Dublin City outdoor Blue playground - an animated destination in the city Key to linking the city and use of the wider rural canal network
Dublin City Canal Events Strategy The Royal Canal Big Day Out City Centre Triathlon Open Swim Training Location Spencer Dock New Exit & Board Walk from Grand Canal Dart Station 12 th Lock to 12 th Lock City Cycle Loop Work with Dublin City Council and Irish Water ref. Water Quality
Canal Bye Laws Over 14,500 Registered Boats 1,000 km navigation 508 boats on 360 km of canal network 75% NEVER move Canals Act, 1986 (Bye-Laws) 1988 30 Years without amendment
Canal Bye Laws - Proposal -Waterways Ireland provides public infrastructure navigation such as moorings, etc. -Other navigations private sector provides off line moorings -Canal network no private inward investment, Waterways Ireland charges too low Modernise Charging Current Charge 126 to use for year 152 to moor for a year (max) compared to 600-1,800 for a Private Marina Mooring on other navigations Waterways Ireland manages
Canal Bye Laws - Proposal Introduce Fixed Penalty Notices Only sanction - Removal Expensive Cheaper to abandon wreck for Waterways Ireland to remove Granted in 2005 Maritime Safety Act
Canal Bye Laws - Proposal Make Provision to Manage New Use Houseboats Ability to provide for, manage and charge
The Value of the Inland Waterways Annual Value m Private Boating 88 Cruise Hire 55 Angling 142 Access to recreational opportunities 50 Health benefits due to increased physical activity 30 Events 8 Good status water quality 16 TOTAL 389 m
Changing Level of Funding Current Capital Total 2010 29,600,000 9,405,000 39,005,000 2018 24,100,000 3,580,000 27,680,000 Funded 85% Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht and 15% Department for Infrastructure. Each jurisdiction funds its own capital programme.
Critical Structures Repairs IRELAND 2016 2017 2018 2019 Budget Required 5,984 6,184 6,2441 6,633 DCHG 2,680 2,680 3,580 4,380 Additional In Year Funding 3,188 2,766 TOTAL 5,868 5,446 3,580 4,380 Figures are in 000's
Pension Costs Pension Costs 2010-700,000 Pension Costs 2018-2.80m Estimate Pension Costs 2019-3.3m Pension Costs 2010 to 2020 4,000,000 3,500,000 3,000,000 2,500,000 2,000,000 1,500,000 1,000,000 500,000 0 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 * 2016 2017 2018 F 2019 F 2020 F
Thank you Dawn Livingstone Chief Executive Office Phone: +44 (0) 28 6634 6201 Home Phone: +44 (0) 28 6772 2240 Mobile: +44 (0) 74 4323 3713