Dáil Éireann Debate, Friday - 16 September 2016
1755. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of the DART extension project to bring services to Balbriggan; the timeline and costing projections for the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24720/16]
View answerThe NTA's Transport Strategy for the Greater Dublin Area (GDA) 2016 - 2035, which was approved and published earlier this year, proposes implementation of the DART Expansion Programme which will provide DART services as far north as Drogheda, to Hazelhatch on the Kildare Line and to Maynooth in the west and to the M3 Parkway.
As required under the Dublin Transport Authority Act, 2008, the NTA is now drawing up an integrated implementation plan to outline how they will go about delivering upon the Strategy's objectives over the first 6 year period. This plan will be subject to a consultation period and will then be submitted for my approval before the end of the year.
Funding for some elements of the DART Expansion Programme is included in the Capital Plan which was published in September last year. Specifically, funding is provided for the extension of the DART to Balbriggan on the Northern line.
The NTA in collaboration with Irish Rail has commenced work on the pre-planning stages of the DART Expansion Programme. A project team is being established and will develop a programme of work that can be delivered on an incremental basis in line with available funding.
Subject to availability of funding and approval of the detailed business case for the project, it is envisaged that the Balbriggan DART extension would commence in 2020.
