Rail Network
Dail Éireann — 2026-06-18
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Darragh O'Brien (FF), Dublin Fingal East

It is a very good point. This year has been really significant in the delivery of metro. We have our full railway order and clean planning permission. It is out to tender and some of the enabling works have started already in the Swords area, with the realignment of the roads, and construction is to start next year.
On a MetroLink to Dublin South-West, I fully get what the Deputy is saying. This will be a six-to-eight-year build. While that is happening, this review will have been undertaken. MetroLink will be the first real integrated system. When it comes into the St. Stephen's Green area, it will integrate with heavy rail, intercity rail, DART and the Luas.
There are major opportunities to expand further. The Deputy can be assured that there will be a specific focus on this as part of the review. That review scoping work will start next year, with the review to be undertaken in 2028. We will start building MetroLink next year and that will be rolled out on a phased basis. The review will happen. I know the Deputy will continue to advocate for it and he will have my support.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/dail/2026-06-18/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-27T06:54:51+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-06-18