Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

As the Deputy is aware, the issue of a rail connection to Navan is being re-examined as part of the NTA’s review of the transport strategy for the greater Dublin area, GDA. The strategy, as we all know, is a multimodal, 20-year transport strategy for the region and one that must be reflected in relevant land use strategies across the GDA. The relevant Act requires the NTA to review and update the strategy every six years and that review is well under way. The NTA has already held the first public consultation as part of the review, with the publication late last year of an issues paper. I know that as part of that initial consultation process, people made their views known about a possible rail line to Navan and no doubt the Deputy contributed to that process. As part of its overall review, the NTA has engaged external expertise to specifically re-examine the feasibility of a Navan rail line and this specific assessment will be an input into the overall review. This assessment will be a factual report, detailing the feasibility of the project by addressing its need and its alignment with national, regional and local policy, establishing its benefits and providing a comprehensive economic and financial assessment of the project in accordance with the requirements of the public spending code.

The next step in the process is a second round of public consultation on a draft revised strategy and I am informed that this public consultation will take place in early autumn. As part of the consultation process, all background reports, such as the one being prepared for the Navan rail line, will be published in full, allowing for detailed review by all interested parties and assisting with developing their feedback. It is expected that a revised strategy will be ready by mid-2022. I would note of course that delivery of projects and programmes under any revised strategy over the medium term will be determined by the allocations we receive as part of the ongoing national development plan, NDP, review.

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