David Maxwell (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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113. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the specific steps his Department is undertaking to ensure that the National Train Control Centre project is delivered in a timely and cost-effective manner; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51581/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy may be aware, the National Train Control Centre or NTCC project is designed to deliver a modern, safe and efficient national train control system that can effectively meet the needs of a growing railway over the coming decades.

There are a number monitoring and reporting procedures that my Department has in place to review the progress of the NTCC, as I will outline.

The Sponsoring Agency which delivers the NTCC is Iarnród Éireann, and the day-to-day Approving Authority is the NTA, which provides independent challenge to Iarnród Éireann in its delivery of the project. The specific responsibilities of both the Sponsoring Agency and the Approving Authority are set out in the Infrastructure Guidelines.

In addition, my Department meets monthly with the NTA to review all major public transport projects, including the NTCC, and it is assisted in that regard by NewERA, external experts with professional infrastructure experience, and through JASPERS which is an EU agency that provides Member States with advice on infrastructure development.

The NTCC building was completed in November 2022, but bringing it into operation has been delayed due to complexities associated with the roll-out of the Traffic Management System or TMS, which is the software system that integrates a range of railway systems such as signalling and communications.

As a result, I recently met with the NTA and the contractor, Indra Sistemas, who are responsible for the TMS project. At the meeting, I noted my dissatisfaction at the rate of progress with the TMS and emphasised the importance of project delivery.

More broadly, I will continue to keep the NTCC project under close review, with a view to it bringing its benefits to railways users as soon as feasible.

Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Solidarity)
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114. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the progress on the Dart+ project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51873/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy may be aware, the National Transport Authority (NTA) has responsibility for the planning and development of public transport infrastructure in the Greater Dublin Area (GDA) including, in consultation with Iarnród Éireann, the DART+ programme.

The DART+ Programme aims to modernise and improve existing rail services in the GDA, by increasing the electrified network for circa 50km to 150km and doubling city centre capacity during peak hours.

The DART+ Programme, which was approved in principle by Government in 2021, will involve the extension of DART services in the Greater Dublin Area as far as M3 Parkway, Maynooth, Hazelhatch and Drogheda, and will also provide an improvement on the existing DART line south of Dublin City. It is also planned to extend the existing DART fleet through a ten-year procurement framework for electric and battery-electric train fleet.

We received positive news in August that a Railway Order for DART+ Costal North was approved by An Coimisiún Pleanála. The Railway Order for DART+ South West was approved by An Coimisiún Pleanála in November 2024, and conditional approval for DART+ West was granted in July 2024.

Procurement for DART+ South West and Dart+ West is also progressing, with pre-qualification questionnaires (PQQ) notices for Design and Build works advertised in May.

The first order for the purchase of 95 additional DART carriages, which compromise of 65 battery-electric carriages and 30 electric carriages, have started arriving and are currently undergoing certification and safety testing. It is intended that the new battery-electric sets will be initially deployed on the Northern Commuter Line serving Dublin to and from Drogheda.

I look forward to progressing these projects as we strive to improve the rail network for passengers and wider society during the term of this Government.

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