Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

154. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport further to Parliamentary Question No. 247 of 28 September 2021, if Ministerial approval has been given to the project to proceed to a business case. [6879/23]

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

In its role as Approving Authority under the Public Spending Code, the National Transport Authority (NTA) submitted the Strategic Assessment Report (SAR) for Cork Light Rail to the Department of Transport in June 2021. After detailed review and consideration by the Department, the SAR was determined to not meet a number of requirements as set out in the Code and was returned to the NTA for revision in January 2022.

The Department of Transport is currently awaiting submission of a revised SAR for the project.

The NTA has responsibility for the planning and development of public transport infrastructure in Cork and, noting its role, I have referred the Deputy's question to the NTA for a more detailed response. Please contact my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 days.

Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

155. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if the Navan rail line project will now proceed to design and appraisal given its inclusion as a medium-term project in the Greater Dublin Area Transport Strategy 2022-2042; if he will provide an update and indicative timeline for each of the phases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6908/23]

Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

156. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if the Navan rail line will not proceed to construction in advance of 2031 due to funding constraints in the national development plan to 2030; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6909/23]

Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

157. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if additional funding was made available in the national development plan prior to 2030 to provide for the construction of the Navan rail line; the estimated timeline for delivery on this project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6910/23]

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

I propose to take Questions Nos. 155 to 157, inclusive, together.

As the Deputy is aware, the issue of a rail connection to Navan has been 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.

A Navan rail link is included in the recently published GDA Transport Strategyas one of the proposed projects to be delivered. As it stands, the Strategyproposes delivery of the Navan rail line in the medium term from 2031-2036. A project of this scale will require significant planning and design before construction can commence. It is expected that this pre-construction work will commence in the second half of this decade under the National Development Plan funding envelope out to 2030.