Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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473. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of the DART expansion programme and the electrification of the Sligo line from Connolly to Maynooth, together with removal of level crossings and resignalling; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38715/16]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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​The National Transport Authority's 'Transport Strategy for the Greater Dublin Area 2016 - 2035', which was approved and published earlier this year, proposes implementation of the DART Expansion Programme involving electrification of the Northern line as far as Drogheda, the Kildare Line to Hazelhatch, the Sligo line to Maynooth in the west and to the M3 Parkway and construction of the DART Underground tunnel.  The extension of the DART to Maynooth and to the M3 Parkway would provide an enhancement to existing services for commuters from the wider catchment areas in Counties Kildare and Meath, including Kilcock and Enfield. 

As the Deputy will be aware, the Government decided in September 2015 that the original proposal for the tunnel should be redesigned and work is underway on that at present.  Due to constraints on funding, not all of the elements of the DART Expansion Programme can be progressed during the lifetime of the 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 planned review of the Capital Plan.