Written answers

Tuesday, 30 September 2025

Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport

Rail Network

Photo of David MaxwellDavid Maxwell (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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125. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the risk mitigation strategies being implemented by his Department to prevent further cost escalations in the National Train Control Centre project; his views on how these strategies align with broader infrastructure governance reforms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51582/25]

Photo of Darragh O'BrienDarragh 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 (NTA) has statutory responsibility for the planning and development of public transport infrastructure in the Greater Dublin Area, including, in conjunction with Iarnród Éireann, the National Train Control Centre (NTCC).

As the Deputy may be aware, the 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 regularly 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.

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.

Noting the NTA's specific responsibility in this 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.

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