​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.

​Dáil Question
No: 1387

To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to improve the train service for Balbriggan; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
- Darragh O'Brien.

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

Ref No:   35981/17

Dáil Question
No: 

To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to improve the train service for Skerries; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
- Darragh O'Brien.
*    For WRITTEN answer on Wednesday, 26th July, 2017.
Ref No:   35982/17 

Dáil Question
No: 

To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to improve the train service for Rush and Lusk; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
- Darragh O'Brien.
*    For WRITTEN answer on Wednesday, 26th July, 2017.
Ref No:   35983/17 

Dáil Question
No: 

To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to improve the train service for Donabate; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
- Darragh O'Brien.
*    For WRITTEN answer on Wednesday, 26th July, 2017.
Ref No:   35984/17 

Dáil Question
No: 

To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to improve the train service for Malahide; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
- Darragh O'Brien.
*    For WRITTEN answer on Wednesday, 26th July, 2017.
Ref No:   35985/17 

Dáil Question
No: 

To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to improve the train service for Portmarnock; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
- Darragh O'Brien.
*    For WRITTEN answer on Wednesday, 26th July, 2017.
Ref No:   35986/17 

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

REPLY


​I propose to answer Questions 1387, 1388, 1389, 1390, 1391 and 1392 together.
The issues raised are matters for the National Transport Authority (NTA), in conjunction with Iarnród Éireann, and I have forwarded the Deputy's questions to the NTA for direct reply.  Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within ten working days.

​Dáil Question
No: 1386

To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of the provision of the Metro North from Dublin city centre to Swords, Lissenhall, 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:   35977/17


Dáil Question
No: 1416

To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when the construction of metro north will commence; the timeframe for construction; the target completion date; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
- Darragh O'Brien.
*    For WRITTEN answer on Wednesday, 26th July, 2017.
Ref No:   36587/17     Proof:   1477 

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

REPLY

​I propose to answer Questions 1386 and 1416 together.
Over the period to 2022, funding of over €700 million has been allocated under the Government's Capital Plan for planning, design and commencing construction of new Metro North.  Funding in the initial years of the Capital Plan is for planning and design work with construction expected to commence in 2021 with a view to delivering the project by 2026/2027. The Programme for Partnership Government commits to proceeding with the New Metro North project.
The decision to proceed with new Metro North followed consideration of the Fingal/North Dublin Transport Study and the National Transport Authority's (NTA) recommendations on the study, which identified the light-rail link as the optimum long term public transport solution on the Swords/airport/city centre corridor. It is expected that the service will offer capacity for 9,900 passengers per hour per direction with the potential to expand services in the future if demand requires.
The NTA and Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) have commenced preparatory work on the planning and design of new Metro North and a dedicated project Steering Group has been established which is meeting on a regular basis.  The NTA, in collaboration with TII, is undertaking an option analysis and selection study of possible metro alignments and station locations.  Arising from this work a final route and station configuration will be established.   It is my understanding that the NTA and TII expect that this process will be complete by the end of 2017, after which a public consultation process will be undertaken in 2018.

​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.

​Dáil Question
No: 1376

To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to improve the bus service for the Lusk area; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
- Darragh O'Brien.

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

Ref No:   35939/17

Dáil Question
No: 1377

To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to improve the bus service for the Donabate and Portrane areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
- Darragh O'Brien.
*    For WRITTEN answer on Wednesday, 26th July, 2017.
Ref No:   35940/17 

Dáil Question
No: 1378

To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to improve the bus service for the Skerries area; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
- Darragh O'Brien.
*    For WRITTEN answer on Wednesday, 26th July, 2017.
Ref No:   35941/17 

Dáil Question
No: 1379

To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to improve the bus service for the Malahide area; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
- Darragh O'Brien.
*    For WRITTEN answer on Wednesday, 26th July, 2017.
Ref No:   35942/17 

Dáil Question
No: 1380

To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to improve the bus service for the Swords area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. - Darragh O'Brien.
*    For WRITTEN answer on Wednesday, 26th July, 2017.
Ref No:   35943/17 

Dáil Question
No: 1381

To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to improve the bus service for the Balbriggan area; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
- Darragh O'Brien.
*    For WRITTEN answer on Wednesday, 26th July, 2017.
Ref No:   35944/17 

Dáil Question
No: 1382

To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to improve the bus service for the Rush area; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
- Darragh O'Brien.
*    For WRITTEN answer on Wednesday, 26th July, 2017.
Ref No:   35945/17 

Dáil Question
No: 1383

To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to improve the bus service for the Portmarnock area; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
- Darragh O'Brien.
*    For WRITTEN answer on Wednesday, 26th July, 2017.
Ref No:   35946/17 

Dáil Question
No: 1384

*To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to improve the bus service for the Kinsealy area; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
- Darragh O'Brien.
*    For WRITTEN answer on Wednesday, 26th July, 2017.
Ref No:   35947/17 

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

REPLY


​I propose to answer Questions 1376, 1377, 1378, 1379, 1380, 1381, 1382, 1383 and 1384 together.
The issues raised are matters for the National Transport Authority (NTA) in conjunction with the relevant transport providers and I have forwarded the Deputy's questions to the NTA for direct reply.  Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within ten working days.

​QUESTION NO:  1200

DÁIL QUESTION addressed to the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Deputy Michael Creed)
by Deputy Darragh O'Brien
for WRITTEN ANSWER on 26/07/2017  

 
 To ask the Minister for Agriculture; Food and the Marine his plans for the publication of a report (details supplied) into harness racing here in view of the fact that this report was due to be published in April 2017; the steps he is taking to promote and develop harness racing here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. (Details Supplied) Indecon report
  
REPLY.


In November 2016 the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine commissioned a report to review the Irish harness racing sector. An independent report was undertaken by Indecon International Consultants and this report is currently being examined by officials within my Department.

The Irish Harness Racing Association (IHRA) was a beneficiary, for the first time in 2016, of an Equine Infrastructure grant scheme operated by my Department. The IHRA has received grants totalling €21,704 under this scheme, with a view to supporting this sector in a targeted way.

In addition, the IHRA has been approved in 2017 for grants totalling €40,077 under the Equine Technical Support Scheme. 

My Department has also offered assistance of the order of €25,000 to the IHRA "Road Racing Education Programme". This programme is aimed at bringing about an improvement in horse welfare and, in particular, to encourage a move away from road racing.

​QUESTION NO:  1167

DÁIL QUESTION addressed to the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Deputy Michael Creed)
by Deputy Darragh O'Brien
for WRITTEN ANSWER on 26/07/2017  

 
 To ask the Minister for Agriculture; Food and the Marine if grants are available to help repair and aid the maintenance of coastal slipways; if not, his plans for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
  
REPLY.


The repair and maintenance of coastal slipways falls under the remit of each individual Local Authority in the first instance and their parent Department, the Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government thereafter. 

My Department administers an annual Fishery Harbour and Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme which includes the provision of limited funding to assist coastal Local Authorities in carrying out small scale projects for the development and repair of Local Authority-owned slipways, harbours and piers. Factors taken into consideration when determining the allocation of this funding include overall national priorities, available Exchequer funding, and prioritisation as identified by the Local Authority in question. 

I am pleased to confirm that I have allocated over €3.8m to the Local Authority Programme in 2017, with 67 projects approved for funding. Should any applications be received for the repair and maintenance of coastal slipways under future programmes, they will be given due consideration under the terms and conditions of the programme.