Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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180. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of WTE customer services officers employed by Iarnród Éireann in 2022, 2023 and to-date in 2024, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21431/24]

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 issue raised by the Deputy in relation to the number of WTE customer service officers employed by Iarnród Éireann for 2022, 2023, and 2024 is a matter for Iarnród Éireann. Therefore, I have referred the Deputy's question to Iarnród Éireann for direct response to the Deputy.

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

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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As the Deputy may be aware, the National Transport Authority (NTA) has statutory responsibility for the planning and development of public transport infrastructure in the Greater Dublin Area including, in consultation with Iarnród Éireann, the planning and implementation of the DART+ South West project.

The DART+ programme comprises of five related projects for the development of rail in the Greater Dublin Area (GDA) and eastern region, covering DART+ Fleet, DART+ West, DART+ South West, DART+ Coastal South and DART+ Coastal North projects.

A Railway Order application for DART+ South West was lodged to An Bord Pleanála in March 2023. Subject to the project receiving planning approval, and there being no successful legal challenge to this decision, procurement documents will be prepared for the project, which will require Ministerial approval at Approval Gate 2 of the Infrastructure Guidelines. Following the procurement process, the project will be submitted for Government Consent at Approval Gate 3 under the Infrastructure Guidelines.

They Deputy may also be aware that funding for the DART+ programme as a whole is provided for under the Government's National Development Plan 2021-2030 (NDP). A final decision on the funding of the DART+ South West project will be made at Approval Gate 3 of the Infrastructure Guidelines.

Noting the NTA's responsibility in the matter, I have also referred the Deputy's question to the NTA for a direct reply. Please contact my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 days.