Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 15 February 2018
264. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the extent to which he plans to meet or exceed expectations in the extension of commuter and inter-city rail services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8001/18]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware, the NTA's Transport Strategy for the Greater Dublin Area 2016-2035 which provides a framework for the planning and delivery of transport infrastructure and services in the GDA over the next two decades, proposes implementation of the DART Expansion Programme.
In line with the Government’s budgetary framework set out in Building on Recovery: Infrastructure and Capital Investment 2016-2021 published in September 2015, the Government's Budget 2018 provides for an increase in the multi-annual capital investment for public transport with a four-year capital envelope of €2.7 billion over the period 2018-2021.
This includes funding in the region of €230 million for mainline rail and DART capacity enhancement. This will enable commencement of the initial stages of the DART Expansion programme, focussing on additional fleet and extending the electrified DART system. It will also allow further progress to be made on the electrification of both the Northern rail line to Balbriggan and the Maynooth line.
My priority over the next few years is to rapidly increase investment in public transport while also increasing public transport services for the GDA and around the country. Following Government’s commitment to public transport in Budget 2018 and the 4 Year Capital Plan to 2021, and in the context of the forthcoming 10 year National Development Plan being led by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, we are gearing up for a huge acceleration in the total level of investment and in the number of projects which we can progress.
