Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 19 July 2016
76. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of the DART expansion project; if he views this project as being central to meeting transport demands in the greater Dublin area in the future; and when the review of the project will be completed. [22479/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe estimated cost of the overall DART expansion programme is €4bn of which the tunnel element, as originally designed, was to cost €3bn. As the Deputy will be aware, the business case for the DART underground was reviewed in 2015 and the National Transport Authority (NTA) recommended that the project be redesigned to provide a lower cost technical solution, whilst retaining the required rail connectivity. The Government accepted the NTA's recommendation and announced in September 2015 that the tunnel element would not proceed as originally designed but would be redesigned.
The DART underground remains a key element of integrated transport for the GDA and implementation of the overall DART Expansion programme is proposed in the NTA's Transport Strategy for the Greater Dublin Area (GDA) 2016-2035, which was approved and published earlier this year. 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 has been provided under the new Capital Plan for redesign and planning for the revised lower cost DART Underground. In addition, the Government agreed to proceed with other elements of the overall DART Expansion Programme which bring significant benefits in themselves, including, in particular, electrification of the Northern line to extend the DART to Balbriggan and other works to increase the frequency of existing services and funding has been provided for this in the Capital Plan.
Funding for the remaining elements of the DART Expansion programme will be examined under future capital funding reviews and in line with the NTA's Integrated Implementation Plans for delivery of the Transport Strategy for the GDA.
