Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 30 November 2023
55. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Transport for an update on the funding for the re-development of rail lines, particularly the Navan line in conjunction with Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform. [52022/23]
View answerAs the Deputy may be aware, the issue of a rail connection to Navan was examined as part of the National Transport Authority’s (NTA) review of the Transport Strategy for the Greater Dublin Area (GDA). The Strategy, which I approved, is a multi-modal, twenty year transport strategy for the region and one that must be reflected in relevant land-use strategies across the GDA.
A Navan rail link is included in the GDA Transport Strategy as one of the proposed projects to be delivered. As it stands, the Strategy proposes delivery of the Navan rail line in the medium term, from 2031-2036. A project of this scale will require significant planning and design before construction can commence. It is expected that this planning and design will commence in the second half of this decade under the National Development Plan funding envelope out to 2030.
