Minister John O'Dowd has stated that the Department for Infrastructure's (DfI) funding is benefiting tourism, heritage and the rural economy. With DfI's support, Waterways Ireland has extended the island’s east jetty by 60 meters, doubling the mooring capacity at the heritage site from six to twelve vessels.
Minister John O'Dowd said: "Devenish Island is an important and cherished heritage site. As the most popular attraction on Lough Erne, it draws visitors from far and wide. It is great to be here today, not only to see this project come to fruition, but also to experience the beauty of Devenish Island.
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"The extension of the new jetty will enhance the visitor experience to the island by offering improved accessibility and reduced waiting times. It also ensures the viability of the site for years to come.
"This is an example of the positive change that infrastructure can deliver, and I am pleased that my department’s investment of just over £300,000 has made this new jetty a reality. I am committed to tackling regional imbalance and my department’s investment in this rural community project is an important step in doing that."
Following this, Minister O'Dowd travelled to Enniskillen where he met with staff from Waterways Ireland. He said: "It has been great to see at first hand and hear more about some of the recent enhancements Waterways Ireland is bringing to our navigations across the island. Their commitment to their Climate Change Plan is clear to see and protecting the environment is at the heart of what they do. Climate change is a global issue and we can all learn by this example as we go about our daily lives."
