Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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235. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if sufficient regard will be had for the rapidly developing commuter areas throughout north County Kildare with particular reference to the need for increased capacity and frequency of the rail services in its present or future form in the course of planning for transport development in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53903/21]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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242. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the extent to which projections in respect of rail and bus transport is expected to benefit the travelling public throughout north County Kildare in the short and medium-term; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53910/21]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 235 and 242 together.

I think it is important to firstly acknowledge the significant improvements to public transport currently underway, and underpinned by the renewed National Development Plan, which will greatly benefit north County Kildare.

The ongoing renewal and enhancement of our PSO bus fleets and services will benefit Kildare, along with many other parts of the country. The expansion of the existing Greater Dublin Area (GDA) commuter rail fleet through 41 additional rail carriages will also benefit commuters and the travelling public in Kildare, and these carriages are scheduled to arrive next year. Later this month the National Transport Authority (NTA) will launch the second 'spine' of the BusConnects programme, the 'C-Spine' which will benefit Maynooth, Celbridge and Leixlip and introduce much improved bus services across the area. Kildare will of course also benefit from the development of the DART+ programme with two separate projects – DART+ West and DART+ South West – benefitting the county in the years ahead and transforming the capacity and service level of rail once developed. Finally there is also the ongoing construction of the National Train Control Centre which will improve and expand the capacity of the train management system used across our rail network and underpin the service expansion planned under DART+.

Notwithstanding these significant improvements planned or underway the Deputy is right to highlight the need to plan for the future. As the Deputy is aware Kildare forms part of the statutorily defined GDA in the Dublin Transport Authority Act 2008 and its transport needs are therefore considered as part of the NTA's Transport Strategy for the Greater Dublin Area 2016 to 2035. The Strategy is currently under review as is required every six years and in reviewing it the NTA must have regard to a number of issues as set out in the Act including ‘demographic, economic, social, travel and transport trends’. A revised Strategywill be published by the NTA shortly and I would encourage interested citizens and public representatives to participate in the consultation process.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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237. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will ensure that realignment of roads and bridges in the context of the extension and electrification of rail services throughout north County Kildare does not involve disadvantaging local communities and that road and bridge realignments outstanding for many years are satisfactorily dealt with in the course of the programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53905/21]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport. The National Transport Authority (NTA) has responsibility for the planning and development of public transport infrastructure, including the DART+ Programme which includes the extension and electrification of rail services in County Kildare.

As the Deputy will be aware, projects of this scale and nature require extensive consultations with a range of relevant stakeholders including the general public. As an example of such engagement, Iarnród Éireann, in consultation with the NTA, have recently concluded the second of two Public Consultations in relation to the DART+ Westproject to enable them to identify a preferred option for upgrading the line. This consultation followed on from submissions received during the first consultation which resulted in some amendments following due consideration of that received.

In view of the NTA's statutory responsibility regarding the specific issues raised, I have referred the Deputy's question to it for direct reply. Please contact my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.