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

I thank the Deputy for the question. As he is aware, the Government continues to invest heavily in improving our rail network. This includes initiatives such as the DART+ programme and the previous Government's approval of the purchase of an additional 41 InterCity railcars, or ICRs. Looking ahead, the DART+ programme will extend and enhance the current DART system and services west to Maynooth and Celbridge-Hazelhatch. The DART+ fleet project will introduce electric and battery electric units to the DART network over time and may allow for the introduction of DART services in County Kildare in advance of the electrification of lines. More immediately, while the existing Iarnród Éireann operational fleet is already fully deployed on scheduled services, delivery of the additional 41 ICRs commenced late last year and I am pleased to confirm Iarnród Éireann took delivery of the final batch of these earlier this year. Once fully commissioned, these will serve to enhance customer capacity right across the rail network.

The NTA has advised that there are plans to utilise the 41 new ICRs to extend the length of multiple train sets operating on the current rail network and passengers can expect to see longer trains in operation from quarter 1 of next year, once the commissioning phase for the new carriages is complete. As part of ongoing work by the NTA and Iarnród Éireann with regard to the deployment of the ICRs, consideration is being given to providing new and additional carriages where passenger demand, available carriages and suitable infrastructure support such provision. Decisions on this will be made over the coming months.

I am sure the Deputy will agree these new carriages and the redeployment of existing carriages will greatly assist the NTA and Iarnród Éireann in addressing the issue of growing demand across the rail network.

See this speech in context