Ivana Bacik (Dublin Bay South, Labour)
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494. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if the provision of rail to south-west Dublin and to Poolbeg are a priority for his Department in the context of the national development plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42741/25]

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

Implementation of the Transport Strategy for the GDA 2022-2042 has been divided into three phases – short-term up to 2030, medium-term from 2031 to 2036, and longer-term from 2037 to 2042. The development of a red Luas line extension to Poolbeg is part of the Strategy’s medium to longer-term proposal.

DART+ South West will involve the extension of DART services from the City Centre to Hazelhatch, including four-tracking from Park West to Heuston. Following the submission of a Railway Order application for DART+ South-West to An Coimisiún Pleanála in March 2023, full planning approval was granted in November 2024. Work is now progressing with a view to moving this project into procurement and thereafter into the construction stage in the coming years.

The Department of Transport's annual capital allocations from 2026 to 2030, and the Government's overall capital expenditure ceilings to 2035, were confirmed in the recently published National Development Plan Review 2025. My Department is reviewing key programmes and projects in the transport sector in the context of that capital funding envelope and a decision on a programme of delivery with this level of capital investment will be made in the coming months.

Noting the NTA's responsibility in the matter, I have referred the Deputy's question to the NTA for a direct reply. Please contact my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.