Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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56. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the way he is prioritising plans for the DART Interconnector as per the Programme for Government commitment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13393/22]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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As the Deputy may be aware, the issue of the DART+ Interconnector, also known as DART+ Tunnel and DART Underground, is being re-examined as part of the National Transport Authority’s (NTA) review of the Transport Strategy for the Greater Dublin Area (GDA). The Strategy is a multi-modal, twenty year transport strategy for the region and one that must be reflected in relevant land-use strategies across the GDA.

The analysis in the draft revised Strategy suggests the cumulative benefits associated with the DART+ Programme together with the host of other interventions planned in active travel and public transport mean that it is unlikely that DART+ Tunnel will be required until post-2042.

The priority for rail capacity in the medium term for the Greater Dublin Area is the DART+ Programme which will double rail capacity across the GDA network.  As you are aware, in December Government approved in principle the Preliminary Business Case and issued Decision Gate 1 Approval for the DART+ West and Decision Gate 3 Approval for DART+ Fleet projects within the overall programme. I expect to seek Decision Gate 1 Approval for DART+ South West later this year. 

In the meantime, the draft Strategy proposes to preserve an alignment for the DART+ Tunnel to allow its future delivery subsequent to the Strategy period.