Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport; however, I am not involved in the day-to-day operations of public transport.

The National Transport Authority (NTA) has statutory responsibility for securing the provision of public passenger transport services nationally, and for decisions in relation to these services in conjunction with the relevant transport operators.

The issue raised by the Deputy is a matter for Irish Rail in conjunction with the NTA. Therefore, I have referred the Deputy's question to Irish Rail and the NTA for direct response to the Deputy.

Please advise my private office if you do not receive replies within ten working days.

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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256. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if the REPowerEU funding of €56 million that will be allocated to the electrification works at Drogheda train station to facilitate the charging of battery electric trains, has been drawn down yet from the European Union; if so, when; if he will seek a detailed description on what the funding will provide in Drogheda; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15287/24]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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As the Deputy may be aware, REPowerEU is the EU’s plan to rapidly reduce dependence on Russian fossil fuels, boost the independence and security of the Union’s energy supply and accelerate the green transition. REPowerEU is financed via the Recovery and Resilience Facility. This is a performance-based instrument and payment is contingent on the verified delivery of milestones and targets. Ireland's REPowerEU Programme, which will form part of our overall National Recovery and Resilience Programme, is valued at €240m.

The Government approved the REPowerEU allocations in February 2024. This decision enabled the finalisation of Ireland’s informal process with the European Commission. Ireland’s REPowerEU Chapter was formally submitted to the European Commission on 22 March 2024 for final assessment, approval and adoption processes.

The installation of the battery charging infrastructure at Drogheda train station, as included in Ireland’s REPowerEU Chapter, will allow for battery-electric rail services to operate from Dublin city centre to/from Drogheda by mid-2026. The draw down of EU funding will be based on the achievement of various milestones and targets. The delivery of all the infrastructure in Drogheda to cater for the battery-electric train carriages will include the charging infrastructure, stabling requirements, signalling changes modifications to the Drogheda depot.