Joe Neville (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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134. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the scale of funding that will be given in 2026, 2027 and 2028 through the National Development Plan to the Dart+ projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51817/25]

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 electrifying the lines and purchasing new rolling stock among other works. The expansion will create a connected and electrified rail network for the GDA, increasing the electrified network from circa 50km to 150km and doubling city centre capacity from circa 26,000 passengers per hour per direction to 52,000 during peak hours.

The DART+ Programme, which was approved in principle by Government in 2021, comprises five different projects in and around the Greater Dublin Area –

• DART+ Fleet: A ten-year procurement framework for electric and battery-electric fleet.
• DART+ West: This will involve the extension of DART services from the City Centre to the M3 Parkway and Maynooth, and the construction of a new depot and city centre enhancements.
• DART+ South West: This will involve the extension of DART services from the City Centre to Hazelhatch, including four-tracking from Park West to Heuston.
• DART+ Coastal North: This will extend DART overhead electrified wires to Drogheda.
• DART+ Coastal South: This project will improve DART services on the existing DART line south of Dublin city, with the current focus on enhancing services between Bray and Greystones. The extension of the DART to Wicklow using battery technology is also under examination.