Jerry Buttimer (Cork South-Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

On behalf of the Minister for Transport, I again thank him for his engagement and the Topical Issue submitted. In terms of current developments, the DART+ West and DART+ South West projects are moving to the next stage in light of recent planning decisions. An Bord Pleanála has given conditional approval for the DART+ West and full approval for the DART+ South West railway order applications. While it should be noted that the two judicial review applications to the railway order approval for DART+ West have been lodged, Iarnród Éireann is now working to progress the preparation of procurement documents for both projects to enable later construction. Iarnród Éireann and the NTA are also engaging on a new railway order for a depot.

While neither Sallins nor Kilcock is currently included in the DART network under the DART+ programme, the requirement to extend the DART service to both locations has been recognised in the Greater Dublin Area Transport Strategy 2022-2042. These extensions to DART services will be developed as separate follow-on projects to the DART+ programme, subject to securing relevant funding and approvals. It is necessary to go through the full feasibility and opitoneering processes. I assure the Deputy that projects will be progressed in line with the requirements of the infrastructure guidelines and that public consultation processes will be undertaken at appropriate stages as projects are progressed.

In the shorter term I look forward to the development of new battery-electric DART carriages ordered on the DART+ Fleet project, which has started testing, and they are expected to enter service in 2026 on the commuter line serving communities between Dublin and Drogheda. It is great to see public transport projects progressing and achieving the Government's goal to provide more sustainable transport options to the greater Dublin area in line with Government policy. I apologise to the Deputy that I did not have a copy of the script for him, but I am happy to give him my script.

See this speech in context