Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

428. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the amount that has been spent on the Metro north project to date in 2017. [51014/17]

Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

429. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the estimated cost of completing the Metro north project. [51015/17]

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

I propose to take Questions Nos. 428 and 429 together.

As the Deputy is aware, funding of over €700 million has been allocated under the Government’s present Capital Plan 2016-2021 for planning, design and construction of new Metro North. Funding in the initial years of the Capital Plan is for planning and design work with construction work commencing in 2021 and passenger services starting in 2027.

The estimated cost of completing the new Metro North project is €2.4 billion. The forthcoming ten-year National Investment Plan will include the funding for the period to complete this significant addition to public transport.

I have forwarded the Deputy’s question to the National Transport Authority for information in relation to expenditure to date in 2017 on the Metro North project.  Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within ten working days.

Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

430. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the amount that has been spent on the DART expansion project to date in 2017. [51016/17]

Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

431. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the estimated cost of completing the DART expansion project. [51017/17]

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

I propose to take Questions Nos. 430 and 431 together.

As the Deputy is aware, the National Transport Authority's (NTA) Transport Strategy for the GDA 2016-2035 proposes implementation of the DART Expansion Programme. The original cost of the overall DART Expansion Programme (including the DART Underground Tunnel element) was estimated at €4 billion, of which €3 billion was in respect of the tunnel as originally designed.  The Government decided in September 2015 that the original proposal for the tunnel should be redesigned to provide a lower cost solution.  I understand that the NTA's work on this is expected to be completed soon. 

The Government’s budgetary framework for capital investment, as set out in Building on Recovery: Infrastructure and Capital Investment 2016-2021, was reviewed earlier this year in the context of the Mid-Term Review of capital priorities, delivery and funding.  Following this work, Budget 2018 increased the multi-annual capital investment funding envelopes for the coming four-year period, including providing an enhanced capital envelope of €2.7 billion for public transport investment between 2018 and 2021.  This includes funding of about €230 million for mainline rail and DART capacity enhancement.  This will enable acceleration of the initial stages of the overall DART Expansion Programme, focussing particularly at this stage on providing additional fleet to enhance capacity, and extending the electrified DART system. Specifically, it will allow substantial progress on electrification of the Northern rail line as far as Balbriggan - now expected to be delivered in 2022 - and the Maynooth line.  

In light of the NTA’s responsibility in this area, I have forwarded the Deputy’s question to the Authority for information in relation to expenditure in 2017 on the DART Expansion Programme.  Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within ten working days.