412. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Transport to consider the inclusion of Portlaoise Train Station in the Dublin commuter fare zone structure, either by extending Zone 4 or by creating a new Zone 5 for Portlaoise; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40050/26]
Topics / Rail Network
A subject heading for parliamentary questionsRail Network
1,185 questions from 122 TDs, between 22 January 2025 and 22 October 2026.
1,185
questions
1,167 written, 18 oral
122
TDs have asked
11
parties and groups
Independents counted together
3
departments asked
Questions per month
The record holds no questions for August, when the Dáil does not sit.
Jan 2025Oct 2026
Show as a table
| Month | Questions |
|---|---|
| January 2025 | 18 |
| February 2025 | 36 |
| March 2025 | 36 |
| April 2025 | 41 |
| May 2025 | 53 |
| June 2025 | 45 |
| July 2025 | 57 |
| August 2025 | 0 |
| September 2025 | 61 |
| October 2025 | 25 |
| November 2025 | 84 |
| December 2025 | 66 |
| January 2026 | 103 |
| February 2026 | 93 |
| March 2026 | 53 |
| April 2026 | 49 |
| May 2026 | 53 |
| June 2026 | 84 |
| July 2026 | 71 |
| August 2026 | 0 |
| September 2026 | 121 |
| October 2026 | 36 |
Who asks, by party
The party each TD belonged to on the day, in alphabetical order. Parties differ a lot in size, and members of the Government answer questions rather than ask them, so this shows who raised it, not how much a party cares about it.
The TDs who asked most
Members of the Government answer questions rather than ask them. Each question counts once.
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83
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68
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54
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51
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50
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38
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34
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32
Asked of
Debated under the same heading
Debates whose official heading is exactly these words.
The questions
419. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Transport to provide the details of his precise functions in respect of the planning and resourcing of new rail stations outside of the greater Dublin area; if he accepts the position of the NTA as outlined in correspondence to this Deputy (details supplied) that the matter of the planning and development of a case for a new rail station in north Drogheda is not a matter fo…
181. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Transport the position regarding the reopening of the western rail corridor between Athenry and Claremorris; the estimated timeline for delivery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38463/26]
183. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Transport if the National Transport Authority has examined the feasibility of reopening the Curragh train platform in County Kildare, including for use as a park-and-ride facility or for event-based services; if there are any plans to progress this proposal in order to alleviate capacity pressures at Kildare and Newbridge train stations; and if he will make a statem…
198. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Transport whether his Department has engaged with Iarnród Éireann regarding the operation of DART service frequencies on bank holidays, particularly in light of commuter demand and increased visitor travel during such periods; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38688/26]
200. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Transport if his attention has been drawn to the extended waiting times of up to 70 minutes at Manulla Junction for passengers on the 7:28 a.m. Castlebar to Ballina service; the reason for the current timetable configuration which requires passengers to wait for the Athlone service; and if he will request Irish Rail to review this arrangement with a view to reducing del…
201. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Transport whether an assessment was carried out regarding the impact of the introduction of the early morning Athlone rail service on existing Castlebar to Ballina passengers; if these service changes were communicated in advance to affected commuters; and if he will outline steps being taken by Irish Rail to address the negative consequences reported by daily commuters…
354. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Transport for an update on the DART West project; the timelines for CPOs to be undertaken; the timelines for procurement; the estimated time for commencing works; the current timeline for the conclusion of works; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37091/26]
217. Deputy Joanna Byrne asked the Minister for Transport the reason for spending €3 million on a temporary train station for the 2027 tournament (details supplied); where the funds are drawn from; if funds ringfenced for other projects are being diverted to pay for a temporary train station; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35810/26]
237. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Transport the plans to restore rail freight services on the Ballina and Westport rail lines, having regard to the fact that this line was historically used for the delivery of goods; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36454/26]
238. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Transport whether a feasibility study has been carried out, or is planned, into the reinstatement of goods and freight transport by rail from Ballina and Westport, County Mayo; and if not, whether he will commit to commissioning such a study in light of regional development and climate objectives. [36455/26]
239. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Transport if his Department or Iarnród Éireann has engaged with local businesses, logistics operators, or public representatives in Mayo regarding renewed use of the rail lines for freight transport; and if he will provide details of any such engagements. [36456/26]
240. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Transport how the potential return of rail-based goods transport from Ballina and Westport has been assessed in the context of reducing HGV traffic, lowering carbon emissions, and supporting national climate targets. [36457/26]
241. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Transport whether funding under the National Development Plan or other capital programmes could be used to upgrade infrastructure to allow the Ballina and Westport rail lines to be used once again for freight services, as was the case historically. [36458/26]
242. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Transport how the continued underutilisation of the Ballina and Westport rail lines for freight aligns with the Government’s commitment to balanced regional development and support for the west and northwest regions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36459/26]
347. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Transport the maximum capacity of a rail service (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34328/26]
348. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Transport the number train carriages operating on the Maynooth train line, per day, in each of the years 2019 to date in 2026, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34329/26]
349. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Transport the number of wheelchair spaces available on each Irish Rail service from Kildare train stations to Dublin Heuston station and total of non-wheelchair spaces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34400/26]
350. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Transport the average number of wheelchair spaces available on all Irish Rail services compared to non-wheelchair spaces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34401/26]
351. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Transport for an update on the funding for and progress of the Dart+SW; and the timeframe for when work on this much needed public transport project will commence. [34414/26]
356. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Transport to provide an update on the status of the Navan rail line project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34455/26]
373. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Transport whether he is aware of the frequency and duration of recent DART service curtailments for maintenance works, particularly on the northside of Dublin; the rationale for scheduling such works during peak periods including bank holiday weekends and major events; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34623/26]
374. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Transport whether his Department has engaged with the National Transport Authority and Iarnród Éireann regarding the planning of alternative transport arrangements during DART service disruptions; the requirements that are in place to ensure adequate replacement bus capacity and frequency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34624/26]
375. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Transport the advance planning and coordination mechanisms that exist between the National Transport Authority, transport operators and relevant stakeholders to mitigate the impact of planned rail maintenance works on commuters; whether the adequacy of alternative transport provision is assessed in advance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34625/26]
376. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Transport whether any assessment has been carried out on the wider economic and social impact of repeated DART service disruptions, including the effect on commuter behaviour, city centre footfall and local businesses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34626/26]