Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of the planning extension of the DART to Balbriggan, County Dublin

​Dáil Question
No: 1385

To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of the planning extension of the DART to Balbriggan, County Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
- Darragh O'Brien.

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

Ref No:   35976/17


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

REPLY

​The National Transport Authority's (NTA) 'Transport Strategy for the Greater Dublin Area 2016-2035', which was approved and published in 2016, proposes implementation of the DART Expansion Programme which will provide DART services as far north as Drogheda, to Hazelhatch on the Kildare Line and to Maynooth in the west and to the M3 Parkway.
Almost €70m has been allocated under the existing Capital Plan for some elements of the DART Expansion Programme. Funding is included for the extension to Balbriggan on the Northern line; progress of design and planning for Expansion of DART to Maynooth and Hazelhatch;  and for work on the redesign of the tunnel.
The NTA in collaboration with Irish Rail has commenced work on the pre-planning stages of the DART Expansion Programme.  A project team has been established and will develop a programme of work that can be delivered on an incremental basis in line with available funding. 
Subject to availability of funding and approval of the detailed business case for the project, it is envisaged that the extension of the DART to Balbriggan would commence in 2020.