Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
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60. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his views on the potential impact on schools (details supplied) should the proposed preferred route of MetroLink proceed; if he has discussed the potential impact on same with the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22382/18]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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My colleague the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport has responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport.

The National Transport Authority (NTA) has statutory responsibility for the planning and development of public transport infrastructure in the Greater Dublin Area (GDA) including the development of a metro scheme (MetroLink), and Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) is the agency tasked with delivery of the MetroLink project.

Officials from my Department have been in contact with officials in Department of Transport Tourism and Sport and with Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) in relation to the matter raised by the Deputy.

The recently published Project Ireland 2040 proposes to take forward a MetroLink scheme to run from Swords, via Dublin Airport to Dublin’s south city centre (operating in tunnel under the city centre) and onwards to Sandyford using the existing Luas Green Line to ensure that growth along this corridor can be accommodated.

The details of the MetroLink scheme (Swords to Sandyford) were the subject of a non-statutory public consultation process over the last month. It is planned to commence construction of the scheme in 2021 with a view to its completion by 2027.

As Minister for Education and Skills, I understand the concerns raised by affected schools.

The NTA and TII, through the consultative processes, are tasked with finding a way of delivering the MetroLink project that respects the social and community life of our city. This will involve working collaboratively with stakeholders to address concerns that they have identified and to develop mitigating proposals for discussion.

TII has conveyed that it must firstly assess the feedback from the recent public consultation on the emerging preferred route before determining and publishing its preferred route later in 2018. The preferred route will also be subject to public consultation and also an Environmental Impact Assessment.

My Department will engage with TII as necessary in the event that there is any proposed impact on schools.