DART underground makes comeback after planning permission granted

Plans for the DART underground are back on the table after the project received planning permission.

It is understood up to 5,000 Dublin homeowners and businesses could be affected by compulsory purchase orders from Irish Rail in order to make way for the works.

The company says it is waiting for the Government to decide whether there is enough funding to deliver the new line from Inchicore to the Docklands.

Irish Rail's Barry Kenny says the line would link up Dublin's biggest transport hubs for the first time.

"Next year, the Government is going to make (that) decision," he said. "We feel it's a project that can transform public transport in the greater Dublin area, allowing us to connect all rail lines together to expand the number of trains that can operate."