Transport | Improvements and enhancements for north Kildare commuters

To ask the Minister for Transport the extent to which north Kildare rail commuters can expect enhanced and improved services in the future given the demographic trends and the need for the public to have confidence in the transport system in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

REPLY

A

The DART + Programme comprises a number of projects that will provide fast, high-frequency electrified services to Drogheda on the Northern Line, Hazelhatch on the Kildare Line, Maynooth and M3 Parkway on the Maynooth Line, and on the South Eastern Line as far south as Greystones.

Significant progress has been made on the DART+ Programme during 2022. A Railway Order for the DART+ West project serving Maynooth was submitted to An Bord Pleanála on 29th July 2022. The statutory consultation period commenced in early August, and ended on 28th October 2022. Public submissions have been collated by An Bord Pleanála and issued to the DART+ West project team. The submissions are being reviewed by the relevant specialists to draft responses, and Iarnród Éireann will seek to close as many issues raised as possible prior to an oral hearing.

The scope of the DART+ South West element of the DART+ Programme includes the upgrade of the railway between Hazelhatch and Dublin City Centre. The next steps in delivering this aspect are the approval of the updated DART+ Programme Preliminary Business Case and the subsequent submission of a railway order to An Bord Pleanála, currently planned for early 2023.