Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

There seems to be a fair bit put on them.

No. 762 is a somewhat delayed response from the Department of Transport, dated 11 August 2021, to information requested by the committee at our meeting with the Department on 27 May 2021. It relates to the DART underground project, on which €45 million had already been spent when a Government decision was taken in 2015 not to proceed with it and to look for lower cost solutions. Another €1 million has since been spent. The current position is that in January 2021, the National Transport Authority commenced the preparation of a route alignment options and feasibility study to establish a DART tunnel route. It was intended that it would form part of the integrated public transport network and meet the long-term passenger demand in Dublin city centre. The Department anticipates that the study will be concluded in the third quarter of this year. I propose that the committee request a copy of it. Is that agreed? Agreed.

The committee also asked the Department to provide details of State investment in the current Irish Coast Guard search and rescue helicopter service, and whether the State will own the helicopters. The response provides details in relation to the operation of the contract and clarifies that the State does not own the helicopters. It is proposed to note and publish this correspondence.