IRBOA in the Media – Offaly Express
”Waterways Ireland are saying they just want to bring the charges in line with best practise in other countries. They employed KPMG to do a report. KPMG looked at different canals in Europe, mainly the Clyde Canal in Scotland which is a couple of kilometres shorter than the Grand Canal, but they have 26 facilities for pumping out waste water and getting water, while the Grand Canal has only 3, one in Shannon Harbour, one in Sallins, one in Lowtown. There is one in Grand Canal Dock, but that’s closed off unless you get prior written permission. The pump in Tullamore has been out of service for years,” Barry added.
Full Article can be read here : https://www.offalyexpress.ie/news/tullamore-tribune/1307339/tullamore-man-s-dream-afloat-as-houseboat-rates-surge.html
The pump out in the GCD isn’t closed except for written permission as outlined above. It has to be opened by a WI official and this is opened on a regular basis once a week or by arrangement at other times. This generally works but the issue relates to (a) you always have to check out if the regular slot will be operational and book it by phone/text (b) the pump out is regularly broken, though if urgent WI does arrange for a tank to come and remove waste and (c) working people have to take time off during the day to make sure they don’t miss the facility. Overall its unsatisfactory because its not self service, as in other parts of the system. Gráinne O’Boyle. GCD.