Lorraine Clifford Lee (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Most of what the Minister stated relates to the DART line. This is of no use to people living in Donabate, Rusk, Lusk, Skerries or Balbriggan because they are not on the DART line. The Minister indicated that he expects the DART to be expanded as far as Balbriggan by 2022, but we have been hearing that for many years. The date keeps getting pushed out further. As a result, I do not believe anyone will get any comfort from the answer in that regard. The other commuter lines will be electrified before the northern line. Is there any capacity to use the fleet on the other lines and move it onto the northern line just to add some extra carriages to the trains already operating on it? The Minister also indicated that "A formal contract for the new fleet is expected to be signed in 2019." When will this fleet actually be operational?