Heritage Act 2018

General duty of Waterways Ireland

4. The following section is substituted for section 5 of the Act of 1986:

“General duty of Waterways Ireland

5. (1) Subject to subsection (2)—

(a) it is the duty of Waterways Ireland to undertake the care, management and maintenance of the canals and other canal property as a public amenity for use by the public for—

(i) navigation in such parts of the canals as are open to navigation from time to time, or

(ii) fishing or otherwise for the enjoyment and recreation of the public,

and

(b) Waterways Ireland may designate particular parts of the canals and other canal property for particular purposes including purposes incidental to such purposes as aforesaid.

(2) Waterways Ireland shall consult with the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment in relation to any matters which affect or may affect fish, fish life, fish stocks or fishing in the canals.”.