Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 4 October 2016
587. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if the National Transport Authority plans to provide funding in 2017 to Iarnród Éireann to purchase additional DART carriages, commuter carriages or intercity carriages; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28583/16]
View answerAs Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport. The National Transport Authority (NTA) has responsibility for the development of public transport infrastructure in the Greater Dublin Area and securing the provision of public transport services throughout the country including PSO bus services, rail services and light rail services. Iarnród Éireann operates the heavy rail network and is responsible for assessing rolling stock requirements for the heavy rail network in conjunction with the NTA.
Noting the responsibilities of the agencies in this regard, I have forwarded your reply to Iarnród Éireann for direct reply. Please advise my office if you have not received a reply within 10 working days.
The following deferred reply was received under Standing Order 42A
The National Transport Authority have been requested to provide funding in 2017 for additional Intercity carriages that will be used to lengthen existing Intercity and Intercity commuter services. Approval on this funding is pending. The National Transport Authority have also been requested to provide funding in 2017 to reintroduce non-operational trains for the existing commuter fleet. Approval on this funding is also pending.
No request has been made for funding for additional DART carriages as the current fleet is provides sufficient capacity aided in particular when the new timetable is introduced. Work is currently underway on the specification for new DARTs and it is expected that a procurement process for these will begin in 2017 in order to provide additional delivered capacity when the DART network expansion is delivered as proposed by the NTA in the Greater Dublin Transport Strategy.
