To ask the Minister for Infrastructure for an update on maintenance work at the Lough Neagh Quays.

My Department’s responsibilities around the Lough Neagh shoreline stem from the ‘Lough Neagh Levels Scheme’ in the 1950’s. As this scheme resulted in the lowering of the average water level of the Lough, my Department agreed to carry out maintenance dredging to facilitate the continued use of certain quays identified at that time. These specific quays and their approach channels are dredged by my Department, on request by their owners and the necessary works are carried out as soon as resources and weather conditions permit.

My Department has no statutory authority to carry out maintenance dredging to any quays other than those named under the Lough Neagh Levels Scheme.

Most dredging operations were suspended for a time this financial year due to the need for social distancing measures as a result of the Covid 19 pandemic. This impacted the ability of my Department to continue with the 2 man operation required to operate the floating excavator used for this work. However, my Department has now put in place an agreed operating procedure to manage the health and safety issues and maintenance of the Lough Neagh Quays is currently ongoing. It is now anticipated that most of the quays which were originally programmed for completion this financial year will be undertaken by autumn 2022.