Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 11 December 2025
336. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Transport the effect the delayed timeline for the procurement for DART+ South West announced in the sectoral plan for transport will have on the procurement for DART+ West noting that two pre-qualification questionnaires for design and build single supplier frameworks for the entire DART+ project were advertised in May 2025. [71195/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy may be aware, the National Transport Authority (NTA) has responsibility for the planning and development of public transport infrastructure in the Greater Dublin Area (GDA) including, in consultation with Iarnród Éireann, the DART+ programme.
The DART+ programme, which comprises five different projects in and around the GDA, will triple the length of the electrified network from circa 50km to 150km and double city centre capacity from 26,000 passengers per hour per direction to 52,000 during peak hours.
DART+ South West involves the extension of DART services from the City Centre to Hazelhatch, including four-tracking from Park West to Heuston. A Railway Order for DART+ South West was approved by An Coimisiún Pleanála in November 2024.
As you are aware, procurement for DART+ South West and West is progressing with pre-qualification questionnaires (PQQ) notices for Design and Build works advertised in May 2025.
The NDP Sectoral Investment Plan, published by my Department in November sees the allocation of €22.3 billion in Exchequer resources to Transport, along with an additional allocation of €2 billion from the country's Infrastructure, Climate and Nature Fund to support the development of MetroLink. Of this total allocation, funding of circa €10 billion for public transport infrastructure is earmarked from 2026 to 2030, in addition to the €2 billion for MetroLink, primarily in line with the Department’s NIFTI intervention hierarchy of Maintain, Optimise, Improve, and New. This approach involves prioritising investment in the protection and renewal of existing assets before investing in new ones, on economic and environmental grounds.
The funding under the NDP Sectoral Investment Plan will see significant advancements made in a number of public transport projects, including DART+ West.
This funding profile now means that while the frameworks will be established for both DART+ West and DART+ South West, the initial design and construction works will be activated for DART+ West. However, procurement for DART+ West is being progressed in a way that ultimately assists with DART+ South West, in that some framework contracts are being established for DART+ West with the intention of using them for DART+ South West.
Noting the NTA's responsibility in the matter, I have referred the Deputy's question to the NTA for a more detailed reply. Please contact my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 days.
