Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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124. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to provide an update on the progress of the battery-operated DART to Wicklow town, and the timeline for its commencement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9440/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy may be aware, as Minister for Transport I have responsibility for policy and overall funding of public transport in Ireland, including in relation to the rail network. The National Transport Authority, or NTA, has statutory responsibility for the planning and development of public transport infrastructure in the Greater Dublin Area.

As part of the DART+ Programme, specifically the DART+ Coastal South project, it is planned to increase frequency on the DART train service between Bray and Greystones. Currently services are approximately every 30 minutes in each direction, and it is planned to increase that frequency to every 20 minutes.

Work is ongoing by Iarnród Éireann and the National Transport Authority, or NTA, to investigate the best way to achieve this frequency improvement, including in relation to any infrastructure needs, and it is currently anticipated that it can be delivered by around 2028.

Furthermore, the NTA Greater Dublin Area Transport Strategy 2022-2042, adopted in 2023, included a recommendation to extend the DART service to Wicklow town in the long term. I hope to bring this extension project forward, and implement the improvement in the coming years, by utilising new battery-electric DART carriages which are currently arriving in Ireland and undergoing testing.

The new battery-electric DART carriages are expected to operate first on the northern commuter line from Dublin to Drogheda next year. As more carriages arrive, it may be feasible to also deploy them to extend DART services to and from Wicklow, subject to funding and approvals for the installation of required charging infrastructure. The NTA is currently examining this issue with a view to progressing the extension around 2029. This would increase service frequency for Wicklow from circa six trains a day each way to up to a train every hour between Dublin and Wicklow.

Noting the NTA's responsibility in this matter and the specific issues raised by the Deputy, I have referred the Deputy's questions to the NTA for a more detailed reply. Please contact my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 days.