I propose to take Questions Nos. 381 to 383, inclusive, together.
I am advised by Waterways Ireland that it has redeployed no staff on the Shannon Navigation since 2012. Currently, 37 members of staff are employed on the North Shannon at the following locations: Roosky (6), Athlone (6), Albert Lock (3), Kilclare (1), Clarendon/Drumshanbo (1), Tarmonbarry/Cleendra (1), Knockvicar (12) and Carrick-on-Shannon (7). Waterways Ireland does not have an on call allowance.
I am advised also that Waterways Ireland has no plans to downgrade or close the Portumna or Tullamore bases. The organisation is in the process of completing a competition to appoint, from within its existing staff, a manager, on a fixed term contract of 24 months, to review the services provided by Tullamore and Portumna offices and to examine how these services can best be developed to meet evolving requirements and the changing circumstances in which Waterways Ireland works.
Details of the funding allocated to Waterways Ireland by the two jurisdictions, North and South, are contained in the Annual Report and Accounts for Waterways Ireland, which are laid simultaneously before the Houses of the Oireachtas and the Northern Assembly each year and published on the Waterways Ireland website www.waterwasireland.org. The allocations, including both current and capital allocations, for the years 2012 to 2015 are shown in the following table:
|
2012
|
2013
|
2014
|
2015
|
Funding
|
Ireland (€'000)
|
Northern Ireland (€'000)
|
Ireland (€'000)
|
Northern Ireland (€'000)
|
Ireland (€'000)
|
Northern Ireland (€'000)
|
Ireland (€'000)
|
Northern Ireland (€'000)
|
Total
|
27,093
|
4,047
|
25,482
|
4,013
|
24,209
|
3,735
|
24,314
|
4,470
|
The 2016 funding allocations to Waterways Ireland from my Department and the Department for Infrastructure in Northern Ireland are €22.799m and €3.614m, respectively.