Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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325. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the timeframe for the electrification of the Maynooth commuter rail service; the estimated cost; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44655/17]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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329. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the amount of funding allocated to the DART expansion programme for the Maynooth line out of the additional capital funding of €680 million announced recently; the precise works that will be carried out on the Maynooth line up to 2021 in relation to the DART expansion programme; when he envisages that the DART will operate on the Maynooth line; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44747/17]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 325 and 329 together.

Building on the Government’s budgetary framework set out in Building on Recovery: Infrastructure and Capital Investment 2016-2021 published in September 2015, the Government's recently announced Budget 2018 provides for an increase in the multi-annual capital investment for public transport with a four-year capital envelope of €2.7 billion over the period 2018-2021. This includes funding of c. €230 million for mainline rail and DART capacity enhancement. This will enable acceleration of the initial stages of the DART Expansion programme, focussing on additional fleet and extending the electrified DART system. It will allow further progress to be made on the electrification of both the Northern rail line to Balbriggan and the Maynooth line.

In light of the National Transport Authority’s (NTA) responsibility in this area, I have forwarded the Deputy’s question to the NTA for further information on the issues raised. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.