DART+ (DART Expansion)

I emailed Eamon Ryan to complain about recent delays to large public transport investment projects. I got a long detailed email in reply. Here was the part relating to DART+.

"DART+ is a programme which actually comprises five different projects, each of which is moving at different speeds and is at different stages of development, while MetroLink is likely the largest ever public investment project in the history of the State. The BusConnects programme, like DART+, is made up of a number of different projects including the Core Bus Corridors, Next Generation Ticketing and Network Redesign.

All three [BusConnects/Metrolink/DART] face imminent and important milestones in the coming months and these milestones will determine the progress of each in the coming years.

Firstly, there is Government’s approval of the Preliminary Business Case and secondly there is the submission of Railway Order and planning applications to An Bord Pleanála.

On that first milestone, the Department of Transport has received Preliminary Business Cases for all three projects. This represents Decision Gate 1 under the Public Spending Code and those Preliminary Business Cases are currently under review. For major projects, like DART+, BusConnects and MetroLink, the Public Spending Code requires a Government decision and Minister Ryan expects to seek such a Government decision in the near future.

If approved by Government, that will allow the contracts to be signed in relation to DART+ Fleet and will also allow MetroLink, DART+ West and the Core Bus Corridors element of BusConnects move into the statutory planning system, subject to the completion of the necessary planning and environmental documentation.

 The second impending milestone is the submission of Railway Order applications for DART+ West and MetroLink, and planning applications for the Core Bus Corridors. Those applications require the finalisation of an extensive set of documentation, including environmental impact assessment reports, and that work is ongoing in relation to all three projects.

On DART+, the most advanced of the proposed infrastructure projects is DART+ West. The second round of public consultation on DART+ West has recently been extended until early October. Issues raised during this consultation process, including those raised by public representatives, will need to be fully considered by the company and appropriately addressed before they’re ready to enter the planning system. Once that has been completed, and similar to MetroLink, DART+ West can then move into the planning system subject to the aforementioned Government approval and finalisation of planning documentation."

Have they actually placed the order for new Dart carriages yet? On Morning Ireland, I thought I heard Leo V say that they were on order.

The Gov appear to be dragging their feet on all matters. Disgraceful.

I thought that the DoT was part of the Gov. I am not familiar with the DPER.

So DPER are also part of the Government, along with DoT. So who is dragging their feet if it is not the Government?

If the order is not placed, the manufacture and delivery cannot be scheduled.