Waterways Ireland to seek planning permission from Kildare CoCo for maintenance on Barrow Navigation

Waterways Ireland has today sought the consent of the planning authority, Kildare County Council, for a five-year programme of maintenance works along the Barrow Navigation at townlands throughout County Kildare.

The proposed works will consist of essential maintenance and repair of the navigation assets and will include dredging, back-drain maintenance, and towpath and bank repairs. The maintenance works which are being proposed by Waterways Ireland will seek to improve the assets along the Barrow Navigation, which is a nationally important recreation and navigation corridor and also has a unique heritage and biodiversity value.

The Barrow navigation features many bridges, locks and buildings that are protected structures and/or national monuments. These necessary maintenance works will seek to protect these structures as well as the natural, cultural and amenity potential of the corridor and as such, ensure the continued use and accessibility of the waterways for all users.

Following validation, the planning documents will be publicly available on Kildare County Council’s planning portal. Waterways Ireland encourages the public and interested parties to familiarise themselves with the documents and submit potential feedback to Kildare County Council.

Gerard Bayley, Senior Engineer on the Barrow with Waterways Ireland said, "The Barrow Navigation is a nationally important heritage corridor comprising a rich tapestry of natural, built and cultural assets. At Waterways Ireland, our goal is to ensure we can provide safe and sustainable experiences for all users of our waterways. We seek to maintain the heritage and biodiversity of Ireland’s waterways while providing a high-quality navigation and recreation offering, for the benefit of all.”

The maintenance works will take place in the townlands of: Athy, Ardreigh, Levitstown (Dunmanoge E.D.), Levitstown (Grangemellon E.D.), Maganey Lower, Newtownpilsworth, Jerusalem, Grangemellon and Coneyburrow (Narragh and Reban West By), Co. Kildare.