Kildare TD accuses Minister of 'appeasement without commitment' over Hazelhatch DART+ plan

A Kildare TD has accused the Minister for Transport of saying “just enough” to appease people concerned about the postponement of the DART + South West project, but not committing to doing anything about it.

“National media is today carrying a report that notwithstanding a decision to postpone the €1 bn project which would have brought the DART to Hazelhatch, Minister Daragh O’Brien suggests there could be some wiggle room,” Deputy Aidan Farrelly, Social Democrats, said.

“Minister Daragh O’Brien says that the timing isn’t set in stone and he wants to see the project delivered, but he’s not actually committing to anything.

“This is desperately frustrating and it isn’t fair to the people of Kildare. This project has the potential to be able to move 20,000 people every hour in both directions when - or should I say if - it is constructed.”

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Deputy Farrelly called for a commitment in writing from the Minister in relation to DART+ South West.

He said that at a time when traffic on the M7, M4 and M50 motorways is now higher than pre-Covid levels, DART+ South West “could have been a game-changer” for the entire northeast of the county.

According to Deputy Farrelly, daily traffic on the M7 now stands at 116,000 vehicles, making it the second busiest road in the country after the M50.

“Even though the project has planning permission and was due to open by 2032 - with work to begin on it in 2027 - the new National Development Plan (NDP) did not allocate any funding for it until after 2030, which basically means we wouldn’t have a hope of seeing it until the late 2030s”, he added.

In an interview given to the Irish Times before Christmas, but only reported today, Minister O’Brien said it was a “very important project” adding that he wanted to see it delivered.

He said there was flexibility within the National Development Plan (NDP) on delivery of projects.

“Timeframes in the NDP are indicative. It is a scheme that I would like to see us advance and I think that we can advance it,” he was quoted as saying.

“This isn’t good enough,” said Deputy Farrelly.

“He’s saying just enough to appease anyone upset about postponement, but not actually committing to anything.

“The people of Kildare deserve better than to be left sitting in their cars in the dark.”