Written answers

Tuesday, 28 September 2021

Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport

Rail Network

Photo of James LawlessJames Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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263. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will address concerns regarding potential delays to the DART plus and MetroLink projects; the actions that are being taken to ensure that delays will not have an impact on the projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46596/21]

Photo of Eamon RyanEamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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DART+ is a programme which actually comprises five different projects, each of which is moving at different speeds and is at different stages of development, while MetroLink is likely the largest ever public investment project in the history of the State. Both face imminent and important milestones in the coming months and these milestones will determine the progress of each in the coming years.

Firstly, there is Government’s approval of the Preliminary Business Case and secondly there is the submission of a Railway Order application to An Bord Pleanála. On that first milestone, my Department has received draft Preliminary Business Cases for both. This represents Decision Gate 1 under the Public Spending Code and those Preliminary Business Cases are currently under review.

For major projects, like DART+ and MetroLink, the Public Spending Code requires a Government decision and I expect to seek such a Government decision in the near future. If approved by Government, that will allow the contracts to be signed in relation to DART+ Fleet and will also allow MetroLink and DART+ West move into the statutory planning system, subject to the completion of the necessary planning and environmental documentation.

The second impending milestone is the submission of Railway Order applications for DART+ West and MetroLink. Those applications require the finalisation of an extensive set of documentation, including environmental impact assessment reports, and that work is ongoing in relation to both projects.

On MetroLink I understand that an extensive body of work remains in relation to finalising the preliminary design, completing the required environmental impact assessment reports and closing out property referencing issues. This should be completed during Q1 next year and, subject to the Government decision mentioned above, the project will then be ready to seek planning permission.

On DART+, the most advanced of the proposed infrastructure projects is DART+ West. The second round of public consultation on DART+ West has recently been extended until 6th October. Issues raised during this consultation process, including those raised by public representatives, will need to be fully considered by the company and appropriately addressed before they’re ready to enter the planning system. Once that has been completed, and similar to MetroLink, DART+ West can then move into the planning system subject to the aforementioned Government approval and finalisation of planning documentation.

I trust this clarifies the current position.

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