Tipperary councillors differ over proposed changes to mooring times at lakeside harbours

A Nenagh councillor has echoed fears raised nationally by boat owners over proposed new draft bylaws for the country’s waterways.

Under plans by Waterways Ireland in their proposed bylaws, suggested changes include the reduction of mooring times to just five days, changes to winter mooring and a tax on all businesses operating on the River Shannon.

Cllr Joe Hannigan has raised fears that this may mean boats being driven out of places such as Ballina / Killaloe, where there is plenty of mooring space to smaller harbours on Lough Derg such as Garrykennedy and Dromineer.

“A submission is needed to Waterways Ireland to point out that this could cause problems,” he said.

However, he was at odds with Ballina councillor Phyll Bugler when he raised the issue at the October meeting of Nenagh Municipal District Council.

Cllr Bugler said that people who moored their barges for long periods in the canal on the Killaloe side of the twin towns were a “major problem”.

“Kayakers need to get up that canal,” she said. “Our quay is being blocked and we can’t get tourist boats.”

Cllr Bugler pointed out that the deadline for submissions to Waterways Ireland had been extended and she urged the Council to make a submission on the use of jetskis on Lough Derg.

“They are causing mayhem at Ballina bridge,” she said.

District manager Marcus O’Connor said that the five-day rule “might not be perfect” but people had been mooring boats at some points for months.

“The idea is to get a turnaround. It is not perfect, but is a reasonable compromise,” he said.

District Cathaoirelach Cllr John “Rocky” McGrath, urged that people be made more aware of the dangers when around water, suggesting that teachers should have a role in making students aware of the need to be responsible near water.

Waterways Ireland has said the bylaws are only at proposal stage, and public consultation is ongoing.