DUBLIN city councillors have written to Waterways Ireland to express frustration that berthing facilities built with hundreds of thousands of euro of taxpayers’ money remain closed to the public.
Councillors in the Dublin South East area have also raised concerns about the lack of safety barriers at the Grand Canal Basin.
In correspondence seen by Southside People, Cllr Kieran Binchy (FG) wrote to management at Waterways Ireland recently to express concern that berthing facilities which cost
?¬670,000 to construct in 2004 are not being used by the public.
The facilities are only available for specific events and for short-term moorings within the remit of the current byelaws.
Cllr Binchy said:
“We are all extremely concerned by Waterways Ireland’s continued failure to utilise a prime resource located within our electoral area, the Grand Canal berths in the Grand Canal Inner Basin,
? he said.
“The berths and information centre were built with public money, but the facility has been lying idle for 50 weeks a year for the last eight years. This is completely unacceptable.
?
Cllr Binchy believes that if the facility was utilised by the public and sports and activities groups it could give a significant boost to the local economy and improve the appearance of the area.
“It has the potential to be a great amenity for the Pearse Street and Ringsend/Irishtown area,
? he stated.
“If it was used to its fullest potential it would be of benefit to the boating community, to local businesses and residents, to the vibrancy of the city centre and to the Grand Canal itself.
?
Cllr Mannix Flynn (Ind) also believes the fact that the berthing facilities on the Grand Canal Basin are not always open to the public is a waste of public money.
“As far as I know Waterways Ireland are not letting people berth there,
? he said.
“At the moment this is basically a vacant and derelict site.
“It is an appalling waste of public money.
?
He also reiterated concerns regarding the lack of barriers to prevent people from falling into the Grand Canal Basin in the Hanover Quay and Grand Canal Quay areas.
In May 2010, Dublin City Coroner Dr Brian Farrell expresssed serious concerns about the lack of safety barriers at the Grand Canal Basin. He raised the issue while giving evidence in the Dublin City Coroner’s Court on the death of a 74-year-old-man who fell into the canal basin and drowned in 2009.
The man was the fourth person who had died after falling into the Canal Basin over a 12-month period.
A spokesperson for Waterways Ireland said it was perusing an amendment to the existing Canals Bye-laws as the first step in initiating the process of facilitating longer-term boat stays at commercial rates.
“After all the required statutory steps have been taken the enactment will give Waterways Ireland options to introduce commercial charges for houseboats, new permits and charges for long stay moorings and revised five day mooring and passage charge,
? the spokesperson said.
The spokesperson added that Waterways Ireland has discussed the issue of installing barriers along Hanover Quay and Grand Canal Quay with the Dublin Docklands Development Authority.
It has already been agreed to facilitate the installation of safety barriers at an appropriate
‘set back’ distance from the water’s edge, subject to confirmation of the exact proposed location.
“This would allow controlled activities within the land/water interface including emergency access to the waters if required, but also improve safety for pedestrians in the area,
? the spokesperson added.