Pa Daly (Kerry, Sinn Fein)
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212. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport regarding a report public transport (details supplied); if he intends to increase fares for public transport; if he intends to deliver on Dublin’s MetroLink and other National Development Plan commitments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10243/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy may be aware, Public Service Obligation (PSO) services are socially necessary but financially unviable public transport services which are funded through a combination of Exchequer funding (both the PSO grant and funding from the Department of Social Protection for the Free Travel Scheme) and passenger fare revenue.

As outlined in the new Programme for Government, Securing Ireland’s Future, the Government is strongly committed to developing a strategic public transport network, the roll out of contactless fare payments on all public transport, and to keeping fares low and affordable.

To support these objectives, the Department of Transport secured €658.442m of funding for PSO and Local Link services this year, including funding for the continuation of the various public transport fare initiatives to year end, and to extend free child fares on PSO Services to include those aged 5 to 8-years-old.

In line with the Programme for Government commitment, the Department will continue to engage with Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform to develop a sustainable pathway for the PSO programme.

In relation to MetroLink, it will be a fully segregated and mostly underground new railway line between Swords and Dublin City Centre, via Dublin Airport. It is a key project under the National Development Plan 2021-30.

A significant milestone in the progression of the MetroLink project was cleared in July 2022, when Cabinet approved the project under Approval Gate 1 of the Public Spending Code. This approval enabled the project to move to the planning application stage, and in September 2022 Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) submitted a Railway Order application to An Bord Pleanála.

An Bord Pleanála held an Oral Hearing in relation to MetroLink in February/March 2024. This process allowed planning authorities, prescribed bodies, elected representatives and observers to share their views on the project. Following the Oral Hearing, An Bord Pleanála held an additional round of public consultation from 19th August to 8th October 2024. A planning decision on the project from An Bord Pleanála is awaited.

Subject to securing planning approval, and no successful legal challenges, TII will finalise a Detailed Project Brief and Procurement Strategy for consideration at Approval Gate 2, in line with the Infrastructure Guidelines.

Dependent on the outcome of the planning process, construction of MetroLink is earmarked to commence in the coming years with a view to operation by the mid-2030s.

Progress has been made on other key public transport projects in the National Development Plan too. For example, as part of BusConnects Dublin, 11 of 12 Core Bus Corridor applications have been approved by An Bord Pleanála and I expect construction to commence on the first of these later this year. An Bord Pleanála also granted planning permission for DART+ West with conditions and DART+ South West last year and procurement preparations are underway for these projects. In addition, Córas Iompair Éireann and TII lodged Railway Order applications for DART+ Coastal North and Luas Finglas respectively last year. All Phase 1 elements of Cork Area Commuter Rail are underway with the construction works at Kent Station due to be completed shortly.

I look forward to the continued progress of these and other public transport projects in the coming years.