The planned closure of weekend DART services to south Dublin and north Wicklow was criticised by Ms Liz McManus (Lab, Wickow).
She said the closure was due to begin on June 3rd and a full service would not recommence until September 19th. "It is unacceptable that the travelling public of Bray and Greystones are, yet again, being denied a proper public transport service," she added.
The Minister of State for Transport, Mr Ivor Callely, said it would be necessary from next June to suspend services for a period of about three months between Pearse Street and Greystones on weekends to complete accessibility works, including the installation of lifts and ramps.
"When these works are completed in September, no further disruption to customers is expected from the project," he said.
He added that the remaining works, including electricity sub-station commissioning, completion of new station buildings at Howth Junction and Bayside and new sidings at Fairview to accommodate the expanded DART fleet, would be completed by the end of this year, without affecting services.
"Once the work is completed, the benefits of a major increase in capacity will be delivered to DART customers," Mr Callely added. Iarnród Éireann, he said, had stated that the method being employed was the only way the urgently needed capacity could be delivered quickly to the commuters of the greater Dublin area.
"A benefit of confining works impacting on services to weekends is that other public transport modes can cater for the smaller number of customers affected," he added.
Mr Callely said that throughout the DART upgrade project, additional Dublin Bus services had operated on routes adjacent to the DART at weekends.
This would be the case for the southside work this summer, he added. "In addition, express coach links have been provided for intercity customers affected at weekends during the works on the Belfast and Sligo services, during northside works, and on the Rosslare route during the southside works."
Mr Callely said Iarnród Éireann had publicised its intentions in advance of any work that affected services. Notices had been placed in newspapers, on billboards and on board trains.
He understood, he added, that all public representatives were kept apprised of the company's intentions.
When Ms McManus said this was "nonsense", Mr Callely said he would ensure she received the information.
