Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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31. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on whether the decision to allow the DART underground railway order to lapse was a mistake that could ultimately waste millions of euro; the progress being made on redesigning a lower-cost solution to the tunnel portion; and if this solution involves removal of the proposed station at Pearse Street. [6343/17]

Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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Does the Minister agree that the decision to allow the DART underground railway order to lapse was a mistake that could ultimately cost the taxpayer millions of euro? Will he give an update on the progress being made on redesigning a lower-cost solution to the tunnel portion? Does this solution involve the removal of the proposed station at Pearse Street?

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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Following a review of the business case for the DART underground project and the recommendation of the NTA following that review, the Government decided in September 2015 not to activate the compulsory purchase order powers of the railway order for the project and, instead, to seek a new railway order for a lower-cost revised scheme. The NTA identified that the DART underground project could be redesigned to provide a lower-cost technical solution for the project, while retaining the required rail connectivity. That decision was informed by the fact that the business case for the DART underground project indicated that the tunnel was not economically justified on its own in the absence of the larger DART expansion programme. The DART expansion programme includes the tunnel link plus the extension of DART services to Drogheda, Maynooth and Hazelhatch, and has an overall cost in the region of €4 billion. Due to constraints on funding, not all elements of the DART expansion programme can be progressed during the lifetime of the current capital plan. Funding has been allocated for the extension of the DART to Balbriggan and for work on the redesign of the tunnel. Other elements of the programme will be considered in the context of the review of the capital plan this year. The NTA has commenced work on the redesign of the tunnel in collaboration with Irish Rail and will progress this redesign work in line with available funding. Currently a study to re-examine tunnel size options is nearing completion and the NTA will shortly commence an assessment of the optimum tie-in arrangements between the tunnel and the existing surface tracks on the Kildare line. Other work is also ongoing in respect of tunnel variants. That decision to prepare a lower-cost solution for the project remains valid and the NTA, together with Irish Rail, is committed to developing a more affordable project. The work previously undertaken on the project will have value when the redesigned project proceeds. I am informed by the NTA that all of the tunnel options under consideration at this stage envisage an underground station for the DART underground at or near to the existing Pearse Street station. 

Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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We all agree massive challenges face the transport network here in the capital city. The DART underground has huge economic benefits that reach far beyond the greater Dublin area. It will link our southern and western rail lines with the DART and our eastern and northern rail lines and will more than double the capacity on the Maynooth and Kildare route, which will enable more frequent and reliable integrated rail service. It is a very worthwhile project. It must be acknowledged that €44 million has already been expended on securing the original rail order, which has been gone since September 2015.

The Minister said he still considers the need for the station at Pearse Street. Why then has the proposed site for the Pearse Street station been sold to Rail Investments Limited? How will we continue to have the site, which the Minister, in his reply, stated will be necessary? How will that station be located in a site in which the State has sold its interest?

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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That is an operational matter for Iarnród Éireann and I will refer the Deputy's question to it and see what its plans are in that regard.

Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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I appreciate the Minister asking me to forward a question to Iarnród Éireann. I could write to the chief executive officer of Iarnród Éireann but he might reply more quickly to the Minister. That is not good enough. I would like to know how a situation could arise where the Minister said that this remains to be part of the overall vision for the DART underground, yet the location and the siting has been sold. Where is the joined-up thinking? How can he dispose of a landholding that he will require in the long term?

The Minister said work on the redesign of the underground by way of a lower cost solution is progressing. When will that work be completed and when will it be at an advanced stage?

Has the Minister made any application to the Juncker fund, the €500 billion fund that is available from Europe for large-scale infrastructural projects, which is available at a reduced interest rate and would be of major benefit to a scheme such as the DART underground?

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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I will try to update the Deputy on what is happening. In September 2015, the National Treasury Management Agency, NTMA, recommended that the tunnel element of the DART expansion programme should not proceed as currently designed but should be redesigned, as recommended, to provide a lower cost technical solution. This project will cost in the order of €4 billion. It has to be designed and delivered in a way that best ensures cost effectiveness for the taxpayer and the State. Proceeding with the redesign of the tunnel element is the appropriate course of action in light of the NTMA's recommendations.

The new programme for Government includes a commitment to invest €3.6 billion across the lifetime of the capital plan, 2016-2022, to enable a number of transport projects to proceed and to fund additional capacity to meet existing and future commuter needs. The capital plan provides for the commencement of a multi-phase DART expansion programme, as recommended under the National Transport Authority's Transport Strategy for the Greater Dublin Area 2016-2034. The DART underground project, as currently designed, will not proceed but will instead be redesigned to provide for a more cost-effective tunnel. Funding has been provided under the capital plan.