The national development plan, NDP, sectoral transport plan published some days ago has a lot of very welcome initiatives and projects in it, which I think will transform infrastructure up and down the country. Today, however, I want to zero attention in on the importance of the DART+ programme, in particular the DART+ South West programme. This is pivotal not only in providing the necessary infrastructure that people in my constituency of Dublin Mid-West, Kildare and the greater Dublin area require for rapid and frequent public transport, but is also key to unlocking housing supply, as per the South Dublin County Council development plan and those of other local authorities across the country, to increase the capacity of that line. It is imperative that we do everything we can now to prioritise the delivery of this programme, including, insofar as possible, tendering as much as possible alongside the DART+ South West programme. I thank the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, for his engagement with me on this matter. I look forward to working with the Minister, Deputy O'Donovan, and other Government colleagues to try to make sure we prioritise the delivery of DART+ South West because it is long overdue and is needed to achieve our housing delivery targets and to provide people in Dublin Mid-West with the necessary transport infrastructure they need.

I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. I know the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, and the Minister of State, Deputy Canney, are working with regard to rail. DART+ South West, which forms part of the broader DART+ programme, involves an extension of the DART from the city centre to Hazelhatch and Celbridge. The programme will increase train capacity from 12 to 23 trains per hour. An Coimisiún Pleanála granted permission for DART+ in 2024 and it is estimated the route will serve 56,000 people. The review of the NDP allocated €22.3 billion Exchequer resources to transport from 2026 to 2030, with an additional of €2 billion from the Infrastructure, Climate and Nature Fund to support the Metrolink and other projects. I understand the Deputy's comments, and I am sure Deputies from that part of Dublin will agree with him. I know it is a priority for the Minister and Minister of State.