Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 6 May 2026
139. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Transport when he will provide funding to Irish Rail for their planned station customer services systems upgrades and enhancements (details supplied), which will include the rolling out of passenger information display boards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32077/26]
View answerUnder the Dublin Transport Authority Act 2008, the National Transport Authority (NTA) has statutory responsibility for the planning and development of public transport infrastructure in the Greater Dublin Area (GDA), including the National Train Control Centre, or NTCC.
Noting the NTA's responsibility in the matter, I have referred the Deputy's question to the NTA for a direct, detailed reply. Please contact my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten days.
Pending this detailed response, I note that the NTCC, project aims to deliver a modern, safe and efficient rail traffic management system that can effectively meet the needs of a growing railway over the coming decades.
The NTCC building near Heuston Station was completed in November 2022, close to its initial target date and budget despite the significant disruption to the construction sector caused by the COVID-19 pandemic during its construction. Bringing the centre into full operation has been delayed by slower than projected progress in developing and rolling out the new traffic management system, or TMS, which is the software that integrates a range of complex railway systems, such as signalling and communications.
As a result of these delays, last August I met with the NTA and the contractor responsible for the Traffic Management System, Indra Sistemas, to express dissatisfaction at the rate of progress and emphasised the importance of project delivery. I again met with Indra in January at the opening of their office in Dublin, which marked an important positive development for the project in terms of Indra's permanent presence in the Irish market, and reiterated the importance of successfully progressing the project.
My Department and I will continue to keep the project under close review, including with reference to the revised target commissioning dates, with a view to it bringing its benefits to railways users as soon as possible.
Finally, it is important to note traffic management continues to operate out of Connolly Station currently and there is no impact on railway safety as a result of delays in the new TMS.
