Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 2 March 2022
63. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Transport if he will consult with the NTA in respect of initiating an additional project to be delivered in parallel with the DART+ West project that will bring passenger dart services to Kilcock town in addition to a proposed train depot in Kilcock, County Kildare. [11941/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn consultation with Iarnród Éireann, the National Transport Authority (NTA), which has statutory responsibility for the planning and development of public transport infrastructure including rail in the Greater Dublin Area, is progressing the various projects of the DART+ Programme. These projects, of which DART+ West is one, are at different stages of planning and development.
The approval by Government last December of the DART+ Preliminary Business Case, permits not only the purchase of additional DART fleet but also for the DART+ West project to enter the statutory planning process, subject to the completion of the necessary planning and environmental documentation.
Further extensions to DART services in the years ahead are being considered as part of the NTA’s review of the Transport Strategy for the Greater Dublin Area which, as the Deputy may be aware, was recently subject to public consultation. The revised draft Strategy does propose extending DART services beyond Maynooth; however, the focus is on completing the delivery of the DART+ Programme, as it must be, in order to allow for later consideration of further extensions to the Programme.
