Next Steps

DART+ Coastal South, Stage 1, Next Steps

The preliminary option selection and design development that has been undertaken for the Stage 1 works has led to the development of the ‘Emerging Preferred Option’ which is the focus of this public consultation stage.

Once the public consultation process is complete, all feedback and submissions received will be reviewed and assessed as part of the next stage of the design development. Following a full appraisal of the feedback, a public consultation report will be prepared to document this process, and it will be incorporated into the Option Selection Report.

Further studies, assessments and consultations will lead to development of the ‘Preferred Option’ which will be presented to the public concluded in early 2026.

All information gathered by the Project Team will be used to inform the development of the project design and the need, or otherwise, for statutory consent applications, either to the local planning authority or An Bord Coimisiún Pleanála, as appropriate. Appropriate screening reports for both EIA (Environmental Impact Assessment) and AA (Appropriate Assessment) will be prepared to determine whether any consent applications need to be accompanied by an EIAR or AA Report. If an EIA or AA is required, the EIAR and/or AA Reports will be prepared for the consent application.

The Planning Process

Further to the completion of all preliminary design and environmental assessments, the DART+ Coastal South project is expected to lodge any necessary statutory consent applications to the relevant planning authority in Q4 2026.