#InlandWaters - Waterways Ireland, with the approval of Northern Ireland's Department of Culture, Arts & Leisure (DCAL), has made proposals to change the Lough Erne Navigation Bye-laws.

A limited number of changes are being proposed with the intention of enhancing the visitor recreational experience and increasing the deterrent to blocking of public moorings by private boatowners.

The enhancement of the visitor's recreational experience is being sought through two measures: the increase of the current 48-hour maximum mooring period on a public jetty to three days, with a requirement to then move more than 3km away before mooring on another public jetty; and the ability to flexibly place and remove speed and wake restrictions.

Both changes are focused on supporting the ability of boaters of all kinds to tour, extend their stay and enjoy events and recreational activity on Lough Erne.

The new measures will deter the persistent occupation of public moorings by an increasing cohort of private boaters, particularly in Enniskillen.

Currently Waterways Ireland is required after a series of warnings to take offenders to court where the magistrate has the ability to impose a maximum penalty of £50 per offence.

The proposed increase in fines to a maximum of £1,000 is the Standard Scales of Fines Level 3 (of 5) established under the Fines and Penalties (Northern Ireland) Order 1984 and is currently in use in the Regulation 49(4) of The Water (Northern Ireland) Order 1999, the overarching bye-laws for navigation on Lough Erne. The magistrate will then have the power to impose a fine up to £1,000.

Additionally, Waterways Ireland is seeking the power to remove from Lough Erne abandoned or sunken vessels and boats in breach of the bye-laws after a 30-day notice period has been extended to the owner.

Waterways Ireland relied in the past on educating and advising boat owners to warn of breaches and asking them to comply, and this will remain its primary focus. However, the number of boat owners persistently breaking the bye-laws, particularly mooring bye-laws by mooring their boat on a permanent basis at a public mooring, has grown substantially in recent years and has become an impediment to the free movement of boats particularly around Enniskillen.

Waterways Ireland and DCAL have agreed to seek these changes to the bye-laws to enhance the opportunities for hire cruisers, visiting boaters, event organisers and visitors, and recreational/activity centres to continue to use Lough Erne as an open and freely moving waterway now and into the future.

A public consultation period has opened for individuals, groups and organisations to comment on the proposed changes and will run until the 22nd May 2015. A public information event is also being held from 3-7pm next Tuesday 10 March 2015 to enable interested people to meet with Waterways Ireland staff and give their feedback.

For those unable to attend, the proposed changes are detailed on the Waterways Ireland website HERE, where an online submission form is also available.

Alternatively, people can visit the Waterways Ireland Headquarters weekdays from 10am-1pm and 2pm-5pm to view the documents and complete a submission.

The bye-laws being changed are the Lough Erne (Navigation) Bye-laws (Northern Ireland) 1978 as amended by The Lough Erne (Navigation) (Amendment) Bye-laws (Northern Ireland) 1986.

#InlandWaters - The schedule of lift dates 2015 for Newcomen Bridge on the Royal Canal in Dublin city centre runs from the end of April till the end of September.

Arrangements have been made for Irish Rail to open the bridge on the following dates and times, if there is demand:

Monday 27 April 11am–1pm
Sunday 3 May 9am–1pm
Saturday 30 May 9am–1pm
Thursday 11 June 11am–1pm
Thursday 9 July 11am–1pm
Thursday 23 July 11am–1pm
Monday 24 August 11am–1pm
Monday 21 September 11am–1pm

The Waterways Ireland Eastern Regional Office requires two weeks' notice from boaters for use of these lifts.

Should there not be demand (a minimum of two boats for passage) for a particular date, Irish Rail will be notified by Waterways Ireland that this lift is cancelled.



A maximum number of boats passing will be implemented to keep to the times given above for the planned lifts (16 for weekend lifts, eight for weekday lifts).



On day of lift, boaters and passengers must follow guidance from Waterways Ireland staff about sequence of passage under the bridge and through Lock 1, and must remain within signed and designated areas.

To give notice of any intended passage of Newcomen Bridge, contact the Eastern Regional Office at 01 868 0148 or [email protected]

#ulstercanal – Waterways Ireland has welcomed the announcement by the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht Heather Humphreys that she has secured Government approval for the restoration of an initial section of the Ulster canal from Lough Erne to Castle Saunderson.

Waterways Ireland has received planning permission for this work.

Work on the Ulster Canal will involve dredging a 2km section of the Erne River and the construction of a new navigation arch at Derrykerrib Bridge to accommodate boat traffic.

Work will commence on the project in April 2015 and is expected to be completed 12 months later.

Dawn Livingstone Chief Executive of Waterways Ireland stated "The development of the Ulster Canal will be a welcome economic and tourism boost to the area. Waterways Ireland will continue to work closely with the Minister and her officials to bring this project to a successful completion."

#Jobs - Waterways Ireland is recruiting for a temporary visitor centre manager (one-year fixed term) at its Grand Canal Quay base in Dublin.

At minimum, applicants must have a either a business-focused degree or equivalent, with two years relevant experience in marketing or sales, or at least five years relevant administrative experience including two years of staff management responsibilities and two years in marketing or sales.

Applicants must also hold a full valid driver's licence and/or access to a form of transport that will allow them to travel to various locations in the course of the role.

Details of the application pack for this position are available on the Waterways Ireland website HERE. The closing date for applications is 4pm on Friday 30 January.

#InlandWaters - Waterways Ireland is producing a 'What's On' guide which features festivals and events occurring within an eight-mile corridor of the waterways under its remit.

Over 10,000 copies of the guide will be distributed free of charge to both local and national markets, covering events in the vicinity of the Lower Bann, the Erne system, the Shannon navigation and Shannon-Erne waterway, the Barrow navigation and Royal and Grand Canals.

If you would like to be considered for inclusion in the 2015 edition, please complete this entry form and return it to Waterways Ireland, Marketing & Communications, 2 Sligo Road, Enniskillen, Co Fermanagh BT74 7JY or fax to +44 (0)28 6634 6257 no later than 22 January 2015. 

If you wish to respond via email please do so to [email protected]. Please also ensure to complete your entry for the free online events listing.

More details are available on the Waterways Ireland website HERE.

#InlandWaters - Waterways Ireland says it has already received a "hugely positive response" following engagement with interested parties from local communities, activity providers, accommodation and food establishments in relation to the Barrow Blueway project.

A series of public information events have taken place in Carlow, Kilkenny, Laois and Kildare where hundreds attended and viewed the proposals, designs, route selection and surface types.

Waterways Ireland staff were also on hand to deal with any queries in relation to the design and environmental aspects of the Barrow Blueway.

Presentations to the local authorities and their elected members have also taken place in Carlow, Kildare and Laois with the presentation to Kilkenny local authority scheduled to take place in January.

There is also one additional public information event planned to take place in Rathangan, Co Kildare next month.

The cross-border body for Ireland's main inland navigations said it is happy to receive feedback on the project which, together with that received both at the public information events and local authority presentation, will be reviewed and incorporated into the project proposal where possible.

Waterways Ireland will then apply to the relevant authorities for planning approval for the Barrow Blueway project in early 2015.

#InlandWaters - Waterways Ireland's 2015 Sponsorship Programme opened this Wednesday 29 October for waterway and waterside recreational events taking place along waterways managed by Waterways Ireland.

Taking place annually for the past nine years, the Waterways Ireland Sponsorship Programme has supported angling, canoeing, rowing, sailing and power sports competitions, learning experiences, community, historical and educational events for people with and without disabilities.

Éanna Rowe, head of marketing and communications with Waterways Ireland, said: "Communities, clubs and associations in towns and villages along rural waterways have participated in small and large events.

"Significant numbers of people have been encouraged to engage and experience something new about the waterways."

Rowe added: "The myriad events supported by Waterways Ireland play both an economic and social role in supporting waterway communities and recreational activity along Ireland's inland waterways."

Applications are open to anyone intending to run recreational waterway and waterside events in 2015. For an application pack please check out the Waterways Ireland website HERE.

Alternatively you can email Waterways Ireland at [email protected] or call 071 96 50787. Terms and conditions apply.

The closing date the receipt of completed applications is 5 December 2014 at 3pm.

Waterways Ireland is the recreation and navigation authority for the Barrow Navigation, Erne System, Grand Canal, Lower Bann Navigation, Royal Canal, Shannon-Erne Waterway and the Shannon Navigation.

#InlandWaters - Waterways Ireland is inviting submissions from all interested parties, groups and individuals before commencing the development of a Heritage & Biodiversity Plan for the waterways under its care.

The cross-border agency for Ireland's inland waterways is particularly seeking input into the issues and/or projects that should be addressed.

Beginning tomorrow Monday 20 October and running till 12 January 2015, interested stakeholders can complete an online survey (or submit by email or post) to gauge waterways users' vision for the natural and cultural heritage of our rivers, lakes and canals.

Future consultations will seek input on Waterways Ireland's proposed Disability Action Plan, new Lough Erne bye-laws, and Environmental and Heritage Policy going forward. For more see the Waterways Ireland website HERE.

#InlandWaters - Waterways Ireland is carrying out research via an open survey on the contribution of boating to the Irish economy.

The online survey is open to all boat owners on Ireland's inland waterways, and seeks information about their purchasing and maintenance expenditure, as well as the ongoing expense of using a craft on the inland waterways over the past year.

The survey is a repeat of the Economic Contribution of Private Boat Owners survey carried out in 2006, which is available to download at the Waterways Ireland website.

All boat owners are invited to visit the Open Surveys section of the website and complete the survey to have their say before 30 October 2014. The survey should take 10-12 minutes to complete.

The survey results will be available on the Waterways Ireland website as soon as the report is published.

#The Carrick-on-Shannon Rowing Regatta will be held on Sunday 3 August 2014 on a 400 metres stretch of water immediately south of the town bridge commencing at 08:00hr and finishing at approx. 18.00hr. Craft wishing to make a through passage will be facilitated every 2 hrs approximately, during the course of the regatta. Mooring restrictions will apply in Carrick-on-Shannon to facilitate the Regatta.

Hundreds of spectators are expected at the event, one of the final events of the season, which is supported by Waterways Ireland through its sponsorship programme.

In the interest of marine safety and to facilitate the laying of the competition course access to the floating moorings will be restricted in the run-up to and during the event itself. Only vessels of an overall length of 22ft. /6.8m or less will be permitted on the floating jetties from Fri 1 to Sunday 3 August. Vessels berthed from Friday 1st 16.00hr will be required to remain in place until racing finishes at approx 18.00hr on Sunday 3 August.

The floating jetties will be closed off on 16.00hr Friday and approx 18.00hr Sunday and manoeuvring room will be severely restricted due to the proximity of the course. As a result no vessels should approach the jetties between these times. Access to the floating jetties will be monitored from Monday 28 July.
Masters are advised to proceed at slow speed and with due caution and to take note of advice from course marshals when passing through the area. Waterways Ireland takes this opportunity to thank its customers for their co-operation with these arrangements.
Further information can be had by contacting Waterways Ireland Inspectorate +353 (0)87 985 2324 or Operations Division North Shannon +353 (0)71 96 50787.