Grace Boland (Dublin Fingal West, Fine Gael)
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327. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide an update on the expected timeline for the deployment of the new battery-electric train sets, in view of the further delays reported; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58843/25]

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, which comprises five different projects in and around the Greater Dublin Area (GDA), will triple the length of the electrified rail network from circa 50km to 150km and double city centre rail capacity from 26,000 passengers per hour per direction to 52,000 during peak hours. This will significantly enhance access to high-capacity public transport across the GDA.

Two fleet orders have been placed (185 carriages, largely battery-electric with some electric units). 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.

There have been delays in the testing and commissioning of the new battery-electric fleet, and they are now scheduled to be deployed on the Northern Commuter Line serving Dublin to/from Drogheda in 2027.

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.

Grace Boland (Dublin Fingal West, Fine Gael)
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328. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason for the continued delay in the deployment of the battery-electric train carriages; and whether these delays are linked to technical or operational issues identified during initial testing or delivery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58844/25]

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, which comprises five different projects in and around the Greater Dublin Area (GDA), will triple the length of the electrified rail network from circa 50km to 150km and double city centre rail capacity from 26,000 passengers per hour per direction to 52,000 during peak hours. This will significantly enhance access to high-capacity public transport across the GDA.

Two fleet orders have been placed (185 carriages, largely battery-electric with some electric units). 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.

There have been delays in the testing and commissioning of the new battery-electric fleet, and they are now scheduled to be deployed on the Northern Commuter Line serving Dublin to/from Drogheda in 2027.

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.

Grace Boland (Dublin Fingal West, Fine Gael)
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329. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if the supplier of the battery-electric train carriages has offered any form of credit, refund, or contractual compensation to the State due to the delays in deployment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58845/25]

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, which comprises five different projects in and around the Greater Dublin Area (GDA), will triple the length of the electrified rail network from circa 50km to 150km and double city centre rail capacity from 26,000 passengers per hour per direction to 52,000 during peak hours. This will significantly enhance access to high-capacity public transport across the GDA.

Two fleet orders have been placed (185 carriages, largely battery-electric with some electric units). 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.

There have been delays in the testing and commissioning of the new battery-electric fleet, and they are now scheduled to be deployed on the Northern Commuter Line serving Dublin to/from Drogheda in 2027.

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.

Grace Boland (Dublin Fingal West, Fine Gael)
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330. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if the delays in deployment of battery-electric train carriages have resulted in any additional costs to the State, including but not limited to operational adjustments, interim fleet measures, or technical remediation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58846/25]

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, which comprises five different projects in and around the Greater Dublin Area (GDA), will triple the length of the electrified rail network from circa 50km to 150km and double city centre rail capacity from 26,000 passengers per hour per direction to 52,000 during peak hours. This will significantly enhance access to high-capacity public transport across the GDA.

Two fleet orders have been placed (185 carriages, largely battery-electric with some electric units). 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.

There have been delays in the testing and commissioning of the new battery-electric fleet, and they are now scheduled to be deployed on the Northern Commuter Line serving Dublin to/from Drogheda in 2027.

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.

Grace Boland (Dublin Fingal West, Fine Gael)
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331. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if any issues have been detected with the battery-electric train carriages received to date; and the impact these issues will have on the overall cost and timeline of the fleet’s integration into service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58847/25]

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, which comprises five different projects in and around the Greater Dublin Area, (GDA) will triple the length of the electrified rail network from circa 50km to 150km and double city centre rail capacity from 26,000 passengers per hour per direction to 52,000 during peak hours. This will significantly enhance access to high-capacity public transport across the GDA.

Two fleet orders have been placed (185 carriages, largely battery-electric with some electric units). 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.

There have been delays in the testing and commissioning of the new battery-electric fleet, and they are now scheduled to be deployed on the Northern Commuter Line serving Dublin to/from Drogheda in 2027.

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.

Grace Boland (Dublin Fingal West, Fine Gael)
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332. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the contingency plans in place to ensure service continuity for affected routes, particularly in areas where the battery-electric fleet was expected to be deployed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58848/25]

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; however, I am not involved in the day-to-day operations of public transport. The National Transport Authority (NTA) has statutory responsibility for securing the provision of public passenger transport services nationally and for the scheduling and timetabling of these services in conjunction with the relevant transport operators.

In light of the above, I have forwarded the Deputy's question to the NTA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within ten working days.

Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Solidarity)
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333. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if Iarnród Éireann will clarify their understanding of the planning permission which is in place for the new railway bridge over the Dublin Rosslare railway line at Park/Carcur Wexford (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58852/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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As Minister of Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding of public transport. The operation, maintenance and renewal of the rail network, including any proposed works at the referenced location on the Rosslare line, is a matter for Iarnród Éireann (IÉ) in the first instance.

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

Naoise Ó Cearúil (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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334. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to increase carriage capacity on peak-time commuter rail services from County Kildare to Dublin, particularly on the Maynooth, Hazelhatch and Celbridge; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58879/25]

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; however, I am not involved in the day-to-day operations of public transport.

The query raised by the Deputy is an operational matter for Irish Rail. I have, therefore, referred the Deputy's question to the company for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.