Ministers Target Judicial Reviews As DART+ South West, Which Has No Judicial Reviews, Put On Ice

Wednesday, 3 December 2025 09:42

By Martin Osborne - Head Of News

Questions are being asked as to why major transport projects, such as the Dart+ South West, are being delayed by government officials.

The government will unveil plans today to make it harder for people to object to new development projects under the Government's new infrastructure plan.

But questions are being asked as to why major transport projects, such as the Dart+ South West, are being delayed by government officials.

Kfm News undrstands that the project had no active judicial reviews.

Instead, it has been delayed to allow the Government to focus on existing projects before investing in new ones.

Social Democrats Kildare North TD Aidan Farrelly said there is anger over plans to postpone the project until 2030,.

It was intended to bring the DART to Hazelhatch station.

He said the project was "shovel ready" and had planning permission, with work expected to originally begin in the new year.

"The DART+ South West was the first bit of good news in years for commuters from the Celbridge area, as well as those further along the line in Sallins and Naas – and now that’s gone," he said.

He added: “Pushing it down the line to 2030 - beyond the lifetime of this government - really calls into question its future. After such a long delay, will Irish Rail be forced to get planning all over again? Where will the funding be coming from then?"

Meanwhile, the new plan to be announced today will outline who is allowed to take a judicial review and it's also going to be more expensive.

It is hoped that it will speed up the delivery of more homes, roads and waste water treatment plants.

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