Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

148. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will meet a delegation from Kildare County Council made up of public representatives and the officials responsible for transport policy in connection with their requests to extent the DART to Kilcock, County Kildare, and Enfield, County Meath, in order to accommodate a wider catchment area and reduce pressure on road transport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36092/20]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

153. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the degree to which he expects commuter rail transport in north County Kildare to be upgraded or enhanced to meet the modern demand; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36097/20]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 148 and 153 together.

As the Deputy may be aware DART+ is a multi-billion euro programme to upgrade rail services in the Greater Dublin Area and will effectively double the capacity of the network compared to today. The programme will see DART level services and infrastructure extended to Maynooth and M3 Parkway on the Maynooth/Dunboyne Line and to Hazelhatch on the Kildare Line.

Over the summer I launched the first phase on non-statutory consultation in relation to DART+ West, which relates specifically to the Maynooth line, and that first phase of consultation closed on 21^stOctober.

It is my understanding as part of the public consultation on the DART+ West project, Iarnród Éireann has received a number of submissions regarding extension of the service to Kilcock or Enfield. These submissions will be given due consideration as part of the process of identifying the preferred route for DART+ West. The feasibility of any proposed extension would be considered as part of this consultation process and I would encourage stakeholders to engage with that process as it develops in the coming months.

Separately the Deputy will also be aware of Government's approval last year of the proposed purchase of 41 additional carriages to the ICR fleet, which will increase capacity across both the Maynooth and Kildare Lines, thus benefitting commuters of North Kildare in advance of the delivery of DART+.