I thank the Deputy for raising this very important matter. He has been consistent in raising matters relating to public transport in the House. I am taking this matter on behalf of the Minister for Transport. The DART+ programme comprises five different rail projects in and around the greater Dublin area, extending the existing DART network to Maynooth, M3 Parkway, Hazelhatch and Celbridge and Drogheda and improving current DART services from Dublin city to Greystones. The programme will triple the length of the electrified rail network in the Dublin area and double city centre peak hour capacity from 26,000 passengers per direction to 52,000 in future. DART+ South West will extend DART train services from Dublin city centre to Hazelhatch and Celbridge station, including four-tracking from Park West to Heuston station. An Coimisiún Pleanála approved a railway order for DART+ South West in November 2024. In addition, procurement for DART+ South West and DART+ West is progressing, with pre-qualification questionnaire notices for design and build works advertised in May last year. The Government is committed to the delivery of major public transport projects. That commitment is evidenced by last year’s review of the national development plan, in which a total of €24.3 billion in Exchequer funding was allocated in respect of transport projects for the period 2026 to 2030. Of this total allocation, Exchequer funding of circa €10 billion for public transport infrastructure is earmarked for this period in addition to the €2 billion allocated for MetroLink. This funding is allocated broadly in line with the Department’s national investment framework for transport in Ireland, NIFTI, intervention hierarchy of maintain, optimise, improve and new. The approach involves prioritising investment in the protection and renewal of existing assets before investing in new ones on economic and environmental grounds. This represents an unprecedented level of investment in public transport infrastructure over the coming five years, which has more than doubled in comparison with the last five-year period under the previous NDP. However, it is a simple fact that within any funding envelope - no matter how big - there are decisions required in relation to sequencing and prioritisation. Those are the decisions that come with the responsibilities of being in government. The funding under the NDP transport sectoral investment plan will see significant advancements made in a number of public transport projects by 2030, including advancing various elements of the DART+ programme. The compulsory purchase obligation processes for DART+ South West will commence this year and aspects of the procurement frameworks put in place for DART+ West will be available for use on DART+ South West when its main construction works commence. It is important to state that, following on from the investment in the new DART+ fleet, DART+ West was also recognised as the critical step in the DART+ programme that will help enable DART+ South West and, indeed, the other infrastructure projects of the programme, to develop for a number of reasons. The new depot in the Maynooth and Kilcock area, to be delivered as part of DART+ West, will provide essential stabling and maintenance facilities for the expanded fleet for the entire DART+ programme, which is a prerequisite for supporting service patterns across the entire DART+ network, including DART+ South West. DART+ West will deliver the critical electrification of the city centre rail network and the necessary city centre capacity upgrades. This is a prerequisite for future trains coming from DART+ South West to enter the city centre network at Glasnevin junction from the Phoenix Park tunnel. Upgrades delivered under DART+ West, such as re-signalling and electrification, are also vital for accommodating the increased frequency envisaged for DART+ South West. The new station at Spencer Dock, to be introduced as part of DART+ West, is a key node for future service integration, supporting the operational flexibility required for DART+ South West train services, helping to address capacity issues around Connolly Station. In accordance with the Government commitment on the delivery of major capital projects, the Department will also explore any EU funding which may become available to accelerate public transport projects. Moreover, the NDP will be reviewed around 2028 and updated at that point, and this will also provide an opportunity to examine the potential to provide additional funding to accelerate the delivery of projects such as DART+ South West.

Sentiment score: 0.24

I went to college in Maynooth, and Deputy Joe Neville has been on to me, as has Deputy Farrelly in the past, to be fair. Again, on behalf of the Minister for Transport, I thank Deputy Farrelly for raising this matter. This is a very important issue and I am familiar with the Kilcock issue, which Deputy Farrelly has spoken about. I do not have a definitive answer on the public consultation but I will ask officials to liaise with Deputy Farrelly on it. I will recap the developments in the DART+ South West project. It will provide an extension of DART train services from the city centre to Hazelhatch and Celbridge. Procurement for DART+ South West and DART+ West is progressing, with pre-qualification questionnaires for design and build advertised in May 2025. In addition, the railway order for DART+ South West was approved by An Coimisiún Pleanála in November 2024. As I stated earlier, the national development plan sectoral investment plan for transport, which was published by the Department of Transport in November last year, will enable advancement of various elements of the DART+ programme in the coming years, including DART+ West. This funding will also allow for compulsory purchase orders to progress for DART+ South West this year, and will provide for procurement progress for the project, with some of the framework contracts being established in common for DART+ West and DART+ South West. As the roll-out of the new DART+ fleet, which has started to undergo safety testing, progresses from 2027 onwards, it will allow the cascade of existing trains to serve new areas of the Irish rail network. The redeployment of this fleet is a matter for Iarnród Éireann and the National Transport Authority to decide on, based on a range of factors. There is potential for some of this fleet to be deployed on the DART+ South West line to add capacity in advance of infrastructure upgrades. As I said earlier, the Department will also explore any EU funding which may become available to accelerate public transport projects. The public transport offering has transformed the whole Maynooth area since my days in college. Moreover, the NDP will be reviewed around 2028 and updated at that point, and this will also provide an opportunity to examine the potential to provide additional funding. I take Deputy Farrelly's point on the acceleration of projects and he made a good point on the population growth. To be fair to the Government, there has been significant investment in infrastructure and it reflects well on us. I will take back the point on notification of the public consultation. The acceleration of projects with regard to DART+ South West is a good news story and I thank Deputy Farrelly for raising the matter tonight. I thank the staff for being here this late, and I thank An Cathaoirleach Gníomhach for chairing the House at this late hour of the night. I wish the staff a safe journey home and if they are on public transport, all the better again.

Sentiment score: 0.30