Public Transport
Dail Éireann — 2026-07-16
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Marian Harkin (IND), Sligo-Leitrim

On behalf of the Minister for Transport, Deputy O’Brien, I thank the Deputies for the opportunity to address this issue in the House today. As a number of Deputies have alluded to, the programme for Government commits to commissioning an independent feasibility study, continuing MetroLink from the city to south-west Dublin. The Government is committed to undertaking an independent feasibility study for a metro to south-west Dublin. For those reading my script, that is in my final response. However, given that a number of Deputies already raised this, I wanted to clarify it before other Deputies came back in.
Providing an integrated transport network that lets people travel conveniently and efficiently across Dublin is essential as we encourage greater use of public transport. For this reason, we plan and develop public transport in line with the greater Dublin area transport strategy 2022-2042, rather than in isolation, to maximise the use and benefits of each proposal and project. The NTA has statutory responsibility for the transport strategy and must review it every six years, meaning that the next review is due to be concluded by 2028. As part of this review, the NTA will reassess the need for additional metro lines, among other transport options, in the greater Dublin area.
This review will consider updated travel demand forecasts as well as changes in land use and spatial planning policies. This background analytical work is expected to commence over the next year. The feasibility study for a metro to south-west Dublin will be undertaken as part of this broader strategic review process. The Deputies will, I hope, understand that this approach will help ensure that it is considered in an integrated and holistic manner, alongside wider transport and spatial planning objectives for the greater Dublin area.
An Coimisiún Pleanála published its decision to grant the MetroLink Railway Order in October 2025, and a subsequent potential legal challenge was withdrawn following successful mediation by Transport Infrastructure Ireland.
This means that MetroLink secured an operative railway order, or full planning permission, in January. MetroLink is now progressing at pace towards procurement and construction. With this key milestone achieved, attention is turning to the preparation of the review of the strategy.
As I mentioned, any consideration of new transport projects will not happen in isolation. The upcoming review of the strategy will ensure that proposals complement projects already under way, including BusConnects. As the Deputies are aware, BusConnects Dublin is a transformative programme of investment in the bus system across Dublin through the roll-out of new routes and the construction of core bus corridors. BusConnects will continue to provide benefits for public transport users across Dublin city and its suburbs, including south-west Dublin. In addition, we must recognise that MetroLink's design and alignment, including terminating at Charlemont in the south of Dublin city centre, will facilitate the seamless integration between MetroLink and any potential new metro line to the south or south west. With MetroLink due to enter construction in the coming years, we will have for the first time the people, skills and knowledge to build and operate metros.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/dail/2026-07-16/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-27T06:52:17+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-07-16