#InlandWaters - Waterways Ireland's recent report on consultation responses to the proposed changed to canal bye-laws is "an incomplete document" according to the Inland Waterways Association of Ireland (IWAI).
In a statement, the IWAI listed its criticisms of the report, namely that:
- There is no mention of the meeting with the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht;
- There is no commentary on requests to change the future consultation period from 21 days to three months so that it is compatible with the Corporate Plan Consultation period and more customer friendly;
- There is no commentary on winter mooring provision on the Royal and Grand Canals and River Barrow as is provided on the Shannon navigation;
- Service level agreements and a customer services charter are not included;
- There is no mention of houseboats, despite this being a major issue;
- It fails to note that only one user group is still being subjected to charges;
- There is no mention of the €250 deposit on the extended mooring permit;
- There is no mention of the Barrow open boat fishing licence;
- There is no mention of requests to have a multi-agency approach to planning;
- There is no mention of daily mooring charges in Grand Canal Docks;
- There are no details provided on any impact assessment reports conducted by Waterways Ireland on proposals;
- The Dutch Barge Association submission is not noted or copy posted with all other submissions on the website; and
- The report includes what IWAI considers to be a wholly inaccurate statement on negative effect on tourism.
The association also claims that the report is "contradictory in itself", noting that "the section dealing with Waterways Ireland responses to the various submissions indicates that prior to addressing all concerns in relation to the bye-laws, there is significant work to be done by Waterways Ireland on a number of issues.
"Yet the section on the consultation process states that they have completed a final report with changes arising from consideration of the consultation process, and once viewed by senior counsel it will be forwarded to the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht for his consideration and final decision."
The IWAI reiterated its position that the proposed Waterway Ireland canal bye-laws "do not put user requirements, tourism development and local communities at the centre of the regulations."
