Labour TD and member of the Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Sean Kenny, has said the inclusion of a link to Dublin Airport in the DART Underground plans would be very welcome.

He said: "Irish Rail is hoping to develop an integrated rail network which would allow rail passengers to travel from the airport into the city centre, and on to Cork, Limerick, Galway, Sligo and Belfast. It was previously proposed that the project would only cater for the tunnel under the city centre, but Iarnrod Eireann plans to lobby to have the Dublin Airport link included. The project was deferred in 2010 but is due to be re-examined by 2015, when the Government announces the next capital investment programme.

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"I understand there may be EU funding of up to €780m or a maximum of 30 per cent of the cost of the project available to build DART Underground, resulting in a far lower bill for the taxpayer, which would be welcome as it would make the project more likely to proceed. I also believe that the DART Underground project could be in line for the money because it is a priority transport project.

"Planning permission is already in place for the tunnel, which would run underneath the city, connecting the Northern and Kildare lines, with underground stations at Spencer Dock, Pearse St., Stephen's Green, Christchurch, Heuston Station and a surface DART station at Inchicore. The DART Airport link would cost in the region of €200m, and would provide a link from Howth Junction to the airport."

(CD/IT)