Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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186. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the timeframe for the detailed design work on metro north; his plans for consultation with residents living close to its route; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44231/17]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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The National Transport Authority (NTA) has statutory responsibility for the development of public transport infrastructure in the Greater Dublin Area (GDA), including the new Metro North project.  

Funding of over €700 million has been allocated under the Government's Capital Plan for planning, design and to begin construction of new Metro North.  Funding in the initial years of the Capital Plan is for planning and design work with construction to commence in 2021 with passenger services starting in 2027. 

The NTA and Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) have commenced preparatory work on the planning and design of new Metro North and a dedicated project Steering Group has been established which is meeting on a regular basis.  The NTA, in collaboration with TII, is undertaking an option analysis and selection study of possible metro alignments and station locations.  Arising from this work a final route and station configuration will be established.  It is my understanding that the NTA and TII expect that this process will be complete by the end of 2017, after which a public consultation process will be undertaken in 2018.