Dart to Wicklow town project's ever-expanding timeframe raises transparency questions
In 2019, it was announced that the Dart for Wicklow town would be operational by 2023-2024. Timeframes for 2025 and 2026 were also announced, but were subsequently rowed back on.
Now it has been revealed that the long-promised Dart service has been delayed again and pushed back to 2030.
Reacting to the latest set-back, the cathaoirleach of Wicklow Municipal District, Cllr Graham Richmond said local representatives are being left in an impossible situation with the constant changes to the delivery timeframe.
He said: 'At this stage the NTA are making local representatives look like fools. We are not being kept properly informed by the NTA, who will be delivering the project. We are provided with timeframes, which we pass on in good faith, only for the NTA to change the timeframe again and again, and make us look like fools. The NTA has to be held accountable.
'Wicklow County Council organised a meeting with the NTA at last year's monthly meeting in October, and promised timely replies to any questions emailed on to them afterwards. I know Wicklow Municipal District has three outstanding emails set to the NTA which have never been responded to, and in all my dealings with the NTA I have never received a response.
'The NTA just can't be trusted and the people who miss out the most on these constantly changing timeframes are the commuting population of Wicklow town.'
Deputy John Brady has described the latest setback as 'simply not good enough' and has urged the Transport Minister to 'get a grasp on this situation'.
'People in Wicklow town have been strung along for years with broken promises about the DART coming to the area. First it was 2023, then it was pushed back several times, and now they are saying it will be at least 2030. This is simply unacceptable,' he said.
'Meanwhile, existing services are packed to the brim. Commuters are forced to stand for long journeys in crowded carriages with irregular and infrequent services. It is completely unsustainable for people going to work, students going to college, and those trying to get to hospital appointments.
'Commuters in Wicklow town and surrounding areas are being failed, day in day out. Despite the increase in population in the area, the infrastructure has not been developed to meet the need. This cannot be allowed to continue. We need proper investment in our rail network, we need additional capacity now – not in years to come.'
Cllr Gail Dunne stated: 'This is simply not good enough and our growing town ad its commuters deserve so much better. Where are the Wicklow TDs on this, and where is Simon Harris, the Tánaiste no less, when real investment is needed in his own county? The people of Wicklow are being left behind while empty promises stack up. I'll keep fighting for proper infrastructure, with no more delays.'
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