Waterways Ireland has spent €125,000 to set up metal barriers along a 2km length of the Grand Canal in Dublin, and incurs ongoing expenses of about €20,000 each month. These barricades were installed on 9th May by various waterway authorities to stop homeless migrants from using the canal sides as makeshift living spaces.
The chief executive of Waterways Ireland, John McDonagh, informed the Dáil Public Accounts Committee (PAC) that if needed, these barriers would be expanded. McDonagh told PAC chairperson Brian Stanley they’d be willing to extend the barriers up to 4km if required.
To date, these ‘Eyesore’ Grand Canal barriers have generated a hefty bill of €125,000, with four future strategies currently under review, the PAC was told. Moreover, the €125,000 sum is inclusive of cleanliness and sanitation charges with rental costs of the barriers since their early May installation accounting for roughly €40,000 of the total amount.
However, there was fierce criticism against these barricades at the recent PAC meeting. Fianna Fáil TD James O’Connor expressed severe astonishment, terming the barriers as a “grossly unappealing sight”. Fianna Fáil TD Paul McAuliffe stressed that public access must always be preserved, no matter the interactions with antisocial behaviour. He admonished Waterways Ireland’s Chief Executive John McDonagh, insisting that reopening the amenity is not amongst the few available options, but is the sole viable option. He condemned the authority’s choice to pay to keep it shut, instead of spending to keep it open through patrolling or other such approaches.
Eanna Rowe, the operations controller at Waterways Ireland, reported to the committee that there were four potential options for the canal banks under evaluation. These alternatives included taking down the barriers; both removing the barriers and overseeing the area; maintaining the barriers for a long time until the migrant housing problem is rectified, or expedite plans for a landscaping and biodiversity scheme
Mr McDonagh branded the barriers as a temporary, highly unattractive solution and indicated that it is most probable to pivot towards the implementation of the landscaping and biodiversity plan.
Seamus McCarthy, the Comptroller and Auditor General, in his communication to the committee, stated that Waterways Ireland had obtained a financial backing of €35.3 million for the year 2022, provided by its sponsoring departments. These departments comprised the Department of Housing from the Republic and the Department for Infrastructure from Northern Ireland.
He went on to specify that out of the total funds, €30.7 million, constituting 87 percent, was contributed by the Department of Housing. The remaining €4.6 million came from the Department of Infrastructure. The same year, Waterways Ireland also benefit from capital grants totalling €14.9 million.
On top of that, they also generated revenue of €1.35 million from various sources such as permits, winter moorings, lock tolls, dry dock charges and rents.
Mr McDonagh analysed the financial situation of the authority and acknowledged an overall expenditure of €61 million in 2022. Out of this, staffing and pension expenses accounted for €31 million. Compared to the €11,000 deficit in 2021, the organisation reported a significantly larger deficit in 2022 of €3.6 million. McDonagh attributed this dramatic increase primarily to legal provisions, due to modifications in estimated future liabilities of the organisation.