Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 May 2024
172. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Transport the estimated timeline for the DART+ southwest project to progress beyond the planning application; and a timeline for the project as a whole. [21331/24]
View answerAs the Deputy may be aware, the National Transport Authority (NTA) has statutory responsibility for the planning and development of public transport infrastructure in the Greater Dublin Area including, in consultation with Iarnród Éireann, the planning and implementation of the DART+ South West project.
The DART+ programme comprises five related projects in the Greater Dublin Area and eastern region, including:
• DART+ Fleet: a ten-year procurement framework for electric and battery-electric fleet;
• DART+ West: extension of DART services from Dublin city centre to M3 Parkway and Maynooth;
• DART+ South West: extension of DART services from Dublin city centre to Hazelhatch and Celbridge;
• DART+ Coastal North: extension of DART services from Dublin city centre to Drogheda;
• DART+ Coastal South: improvement of current DART services from Dublin city centre to Greystones.
In December 2021 the Government approved the Preliminary Business Case for the DART+ Programme and a fleet framework agreement between Irish Rail and Alstom. This framework allows for the purchase of up to 750 electric/battery-electric train carriages for the Irish Rail system over a 10-year period. This approval permitted the purchase of 95 new DART carriages, which are expected to enter service by 2026. In November 2022, the Government approved a second purchase of fleet under the framework agreement, which will see 90 new battery-electric multiple units arrive in 2026.
Following the submission of a Railway Order application to An Bord Pleanála in July 2022, an Oral Hearing for DART+ West was held in September/October 2023. A Railway Order for DART+ South West was lodged with An Bord Pleanála in March 2023 and a Railway Order for DART+ Coastal North is expected to be lodged in June/July 2024.
Subject to DART+ South West’s receiving planning approval, and there being no successful legal challenge to this decision, procurement documents will be prepared for the project, which will require Ministerial approval at Approval Gate 2 of the Infrastructure Guidelines. If approval is granted at this stage, the project will proceed to conduct a procurement process. A Final Business Case, which will take account of the outcome of the procurement process, will be prepared and the project will be submitted for Government Consent at Approval Gate 3 under the Infrastructure Guidelines.
Noting the NTA's responsibility in this matter and the specific issues raised by the Deputy, I have referred the Deputy's questions to the NTA for a more detailed reply. Please contact my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 days.
