Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of the DART interconnector and the DART underground

​To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of the DART interconnector and the DART underground; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
- Darragh O'Brien.

*    For WRITTEN answer on Wednesday, 26th July, 2017.

Ref No:   36588/17     Proof:   1478


Answered by the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport
Shane Ross

REPLY

The DART Underground Tunnel (previously known as the DART Interconnector) project is a key element of integrated transport for the Greater Dublin Area (GDA).

The National Transport Authority (NTA) has statutory responsibility for the development of public transport infrastructure in the GDA and the NTA's Transport Strategy for the GDA 2016-2035 proposes implementation of the overall DART Expansion Programme, including construction of the DART Underground Tunnel.   The Government decided in September 2015 that the original proposal for the tunnel should be redesigned to provide a lower cost solution.

The NTA has commenced work on the redesign of the tunnel in collaboration with Irish Rail and will progress this redesign work in line with available funding.  Work has commenced to determine the optimal connection location for the tunnel to tie-in to the Heuston Mainline.  Other work is also on-going in relation to tunnel variants.

Funding has been provided under the Government's current Capital Plan for work on the redesign of the tunnel and other elements of the DART Expansion Programme including for the extension of the DART to Balbriggan.