Seán Haughey (Dublin Bay North, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

630. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to improve the public transport infrastructure in north Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40053/16]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The National Transport Authority (NTA) has statutory responsibility for the implementation and development of public transport infrastructure projects in the Greater Dublin Area (GDA), including Dublin North.

The Fingal/North Dublin Transport Study and the NTA's recommendations on the study, identified a light-rail link as the optimum long term public transport solution on the Swords/airport/city centre corridor. The decision to proceed with new Metro North followed. Funding for the project is provided under the Government's current Capital Plan, allowing initially for the planning and design phases of the project, followed by the construction phase which is expected to commence in 2021 with a view to delivering the project by 2026/27.

The DART Underground project remains a key element of integrated transport for the GDA and implementation of the overall DART Expansion programme is proposed in the NTA's Transport Strategy for the GDA 2016 - 2035. The Capital Plan provides funding for redesign and planning for the revised lower cost DART Underground. It also funds other elements of the overall DART Expansion Programme including electrification of the Northern line to extend the DART to Balbriggan. Subject to availability of funding and approval of the business case for the project, it is envisaged that the Balbriggan DART extension will commence in 2020.

Obviously, I would like to see some of these projects progressed sooner, but funding remains quite constrained. If additional funding becomes available in the next few years, although there will be many competing demands, I will be making a strong case for additional investment in public transport to support economic growth, social needs, and contribute to our climate mitigation targets.