Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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638. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of the planning extension of the DART to Balbriggan, County Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5623/17]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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​The National Transport Authority's (NTA) 'Transport Strategy for the Greater Dublin Area 2016-2035', which was approved and published in 2016, proposes implementation of the DART Expansion Programme which will provide DART services as far north as Drogheda, to Hazelhatch on the Kildare Line and to Maynooth in the west and to the M3 Parkway.

As required under the Dublin Transport Authority Act 2008, the NTA is now drawing up an integrated implementation plan to outline how they will go about delivering upon the Strategy's objectives for the period 2017-2022.

Funding for some elements of the DART Expansion Programme is included in the Government's Capital Plan including funding for the extension of the DART to Balbriggan on the Northern line.

The NTA in collaboration with Irish Rail has commenced work on the pre-planning stages of the DART Expansion Programme.  A project team has been established and will develop a programme of work that can be delivered on an incremental basis in line with available funding.

Subject to availability of funding and approval of the detailed business case for the project, it is envisaged that the extension of the DART to Balbriggan would commence in 2020.