Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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129. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport for an update on the rollout of Connecting Ireland in County Meath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63322/25]

Jerry Buttimer (Cork South-Central, Fine Gael)
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As Minister of State at the Department of Transport with special responsibility for Rural Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to rural public transport service provision; however, I am not involved in the day-to-day operations.

The National Transport Authority (NTA) has statutory responsibility for securing the provision of public passenger transport services nationally. In light of the NTA responsibilities I have referred your question to the NTA for direct reply to you. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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130. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the steps his Department is taking to improve public transport systems in County Meath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63520/25]

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, or NTA, has statutory responsibility for transport planning in the Greater Dublin Area, including County Meath.

The NTA's Transport Strategy for the Greater Dublin Area sets out a framework for transport investment across the region over a 20-year period from 2022 to 2042. The issue of a rail connection between Dublin and Navan was re-examined as part of the development of the Transport Strategy. That re-examination supported the development of a rail line from Dublin to Navan and the final Strategy includes delivery of the line between 2031 and 2036, subject to planning and funding approvals.

I am pleased to confirm that in 2024 the NTA allocated funding to Iarnród Éireann (IÉ) for the establishment of a design team to commence work on the Navan rail line project. This work involves route option selection, planning and design phases of the project.

IÉ commenced the procurement process for this pre-construction phase of the project, and issued a tender to prequalified consultants at the end of May 2024. In November 2024, multi-disciplinary consultants RPS were appointed by IÉ for the duration of the project to work with the rail company’s in-house project team.

It is anticipated that a public consultation on the route options for the project will take place by next year. That process will ultimately recommend a defined route and support the development of a preliminary business case, which will need to be approved by Government, in line with the requirements of the Infrastructure Guidelines, before any planning application.

The Navan Rail Line is being delivered by IÉ on behalf of the NTA, with funding for the project being provided by my Department through the NTA.

Meath is also served by a number of regional bus services, in relation to which the NTA has a role.

In light of the NTA responsibilities in these matters, I have referred your question to the NTA for direct reply to you. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.