Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 30 April 2026
148. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Transport if he will provide details of projects approved from the €2 billion allocated to his Department to support low-carbon transportation as part of the €3.15 billion of the Infrastructure, Climate and Nature Fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30762/26]
View answerAs the Deputy may be aware, last July the Government published the National Development Plan (NDP) Review, which allocated €2 billion to my Department to support low-carbon transport. In November, the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation wrote to me to request that I, in my capacity as Minister for Transport, confirm the projects this allocation will be designated to. In my reply to the Minister, I confirmed the total allocation will be used to support the construction of MetroLink.
As the Deputy will be aware, MetroLink will be a fully segregated and mostly underground new railway line between Swords and Dublin City Centre, the first of its kind in Ireland. It is a key project under the NDP 2021-30 and NDP Review 2025. MetroLink will be able to carry a peak capacity of 20,000 passengers per hour per direction in the future.
The Railway Order for MetroLink was published by An Coimisiún Pleanála on October 2, 2025, representing a major milestone for the programme.
Transport Infrastructure Ireland has submitted a Detailed Business Case and Procurement Strategy to my Department and the National Transport Authority for review, ahead of a Government decision at Approval Gate 2 of the Infrastructure Guidelines.
Construction of MetroLink is earmarked to commence over the coming years with a view to operation in the 2030s.
