Annual Accounts for the year ending 31st December 2007

Chapter 3
Managing and Maintaining the Waterways
Some 250m of low freeboard was repaired on the south canal bank, between
Toberdaly Bridge and Bord Na Mona Bridge at Killeen, east of Daingean. A further
70m of low freeboard was repaired on the south canal bank to the west of Blundell
Aqueduct on the Edenderry to Rathangan Road. A 300m embanked section of the
Derrycooley canal supply channel, west of 31st lock, was repaired and the White Eye
supply channel, near Robertstown, Co Kildare and Pluckerstown supply channel, near
Glenaree, Co Kildare were dredged. The ongoing winter dredging on the Barrow Line
began in November at Vicarstown, Co Laois and will continue until the start of the
2008 boating season.
In the Dublin area, repairs and new stone facing to walls at the 1st and 3rd Locks
were undertaken in conjunction with Dublin City Council as part of a joint project
for towpath enhancement. New winches were installed at Mount Street Lock and
Charlemont Street Lock both on the Circular Line. Bank improvement works were
carried out between Digby Bridge to Landenstown in Co Kildare, increasing the
accessibility of the bank for both pedestrians and Waterways Ireland’s maintenance
machinery.
Barrow Navigation
The Barrow Navigation extends from the junction of the River Barrow and the Grand
Canal Barrow Line at Athy, Co Kildare, to the tidal reaches at St. Mullin’s, Co Carlow, a
distance of 65km with 23 locks.
2007 was designated as the ‘Year of the Barrow’. This was launched by President
McAleese in New Ross, Co Wexford. Events were organised in the various towns
along the Barrow Navigation to mark the year including a very successful rally
organised by the Heritage Boat Association (HBA).
The Barrow Navigation is a candidate Special Area of Conservation (cSAC), therefore,
all work on the Navigation has had to be agreed in advance with the National Parks
and Wildlife Service (NPWS) in accordance with the EC Habitats Directive. Approval
was granted by NPWS for some localised dredging and bank protection works at
Graiguenamanagh, Co Kilkenny. In order to streamline the consultation and approval
process an ‘appropriate assessment’ of the impacts of its planned work programme
on the various species and habitats protected under the Habitats Directive was
carried out.
16
Waterways Ireland Annual Report and Accounts 2007