Waterways Ireland proposes to update the Shannon Bye-laws and Canal Bye-laws which are more than 30 years old and no longer fit for purpose.
Participation by all is at the heart of policy and decision-making within Waterways Ireland, ensuring we deliver services that are accessible and inclusive. Waterways Ireland is committed to significantly increasing participation on and alongside the waterways and in all recreational, tourism and volunteering activity categories, by the public and local communities, in a sustainable and accessible manner.
The development of regulations that encourage and enable the growth of all types of on-water and along-side water activities is at the heart of the proposed Bye-Laws. The needs of users have changed, environmental landscape and health and safety considerations have developed significantly and the waterways themselves have been transformed over the past thirty years. The Updating the Bye-laws will help make using the waterways, greenways and blueways safer, and ensure that we continue to provide a valuable recreational experience for everyone to enjoy.
Waterways Ireland undertook and concluded two periods of Public Consultation from June 2023 to February 2024 in relation to the proposed revisions to the Bye-laws.
More than 4,000 invitations to participate were sent to interested groups, public representatives, statutory bodies and the general public. In total the consultation period was 178 days with some 1,799 submissions received, 10 public information events hosted, and 27 stakeholder meetings undertaken. Each public information event was attended by 10 Waterways Ireland staff who were available to answer questions across a broad range of topics including the proposed Bye-Laws. Waterways Ireland also addressed the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Heritage and Local Government on two occasions and the Public Accounts Committee on one occasion where the draft Bye-laws were discussed.
All 1,799 submissions received were considered in detail during both Phases of the Bye-laws Public Consultation. Two Public Consultation reports were published by Waterways Ireland and posted on our website Public Consultation on Draft Byelaws Phase 2. The draft Bye-laws were submitted to the Department of Housing, Heritage and Local Government for consideration on 17 June 2024.
Whilst the Department acknowledged the comprehensive consultation undertaken, the dedication and effort that went into developing the proposals and the underlying imperative for the bye-laws to be updated and made fit-for-purpose, they requested that Waterways Ireland reflect further on the proposed fees and charges in light of inflationary and cost-of-living pressures on people day-to-day, and similar cost and pricing pressures in the leisure and tourism sectors.
In response to the request, Waterways Ireland undertook a review of the proposed fees and charges, carefully considering them from a compassionate viewpoint, while acknowledging the financial pressure that waterways users may be under. On 27 September 2024, Waterways Ireland submitted a further revised draft of the Byelaws to the Department for detailed consideration and legal review. This process will need some time to complete.
No changes can be made to the existing Byelaws, permits, or charges and fees until the legislative process associated with the formal adoption and signing of the Byelaws has concluded.