Waterways Ireland was set up as part of the Good Friday Agreement in 1999. It was an attempt by the Irish and British Governments to demonstrate that organisations could work on a cross-border basis.
The body was given charge, and ownership, of all of the navigable internal waterways in Ireland and Northern Ireland, including canals and shorelines.
In the intervening years, Waterways Ireland appears to have come under the control of a group of individuals who view Ireland internal waterways as purely functional and commercial entities.
This means that flora, fauna (ie. plant life and wild life), and scenic amenity have to move aside if some commercial gain can be made through the promotion of water traffic.
This means dredging, felling, filling, clearing, pumping, stripping, uprooting, flailing, sawing and building whereever and whenever possible.
The following fees will arise in taking Waterways Ireland to task for this destruction:
Section 5 Exemption Referal: €80.00
An Bord Pleanala Referal: €210.00
If you can help, I'd really appreciate it. I can accept donations through my company's Pay Pal account. My company is called Night Blue Fruit Technology Limited.
My name is Garreth McDaid and I live near the river Shannon in County Leitrim.
I have written to Waterways Ireland, Failte Ireland and the National Parks and Wildlife Service about the destruction of natural heritage that Waterways Ireland regularly engage in, but little has changed.
It is my hope that it will raise awareness about the activities of Waterways Ireland and lead to a response from their Government sponsors.
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Waterways Ireland refused permission by An Bord Pleanala to dredge the Annagh River north of Lough Allen. Note reasons. Indicative of general activity of WOI re. nature. Read letter from ABP
Update: Apr 21 2008
Letter written and sent to Waterways Ireland requesting info re. envrionmental audit. Also, stats show that site has been accessed 41 times from an ip address controlled by Waterways Ireland. IP is 213.121.203.131 and here is stats report
Update: Apr 18 2008
Spoke with John Mathews who advised making a formal complaint to DG11 re. protected species and habitats. Also hav discovered that Waterways Ireland have carried out similar work in the Knockvicar area.
Update: Apr 10 2008
I've managed to add videos to the site, which should help with rankings, and draw a few more users in. Someone has also told me that John Mathews from the NPWS is taking a more serious interest in the case, but that has to be confirmed.
