Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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27. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the timeframe for delivery of MetroLink; when railway orders will be submitted; when works will commence; the length of time works will take before passengers can use MetroLink; if all the stations and the line will be fully owned by the State; and if not, if a subsidiary will own same. [13759/21]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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As the Deputy is likely aware, the Public Spending Codesets out the requirements for the evaluation, planning and management of public investment projects in Ireland and the Code applies to all public bodies and to all bodies whose projects are supported by Exchequer capital funding.

The Codesets out a number of Decision Gates in the development of a project proposal; these are points where major decisions need to be made about the progress of a project and, for projects expected to cost over €100million, Government approval is required at these stages. For a project in this category, "Decision Gate 1: Preliminary Business Case" is the first stage where the Public Spending Codestipulates that formal Government approval is required.

In accordance with the Public Spending Code's requirements, prior to seeking Government approval the Preliminary Business Case must first be approved by the Approving Authority, in this case the National Transport Authority, and is then subject to review by both my Department and the Department for Public Expenditure and Reform. Following completion of these necessary steps I will then bring the matter to Government for its decision.

Approval under “Decision Gate 1: Preliminary Business Case” is required prior to any application to An Bord Pleanála for a Railway Order and therefore that will be dependent upon Government’s decision in respect of the Preliminary Business Case. The commencement of construction is obviously contingent on a decision of the Board in relation to the Railway Order application.

This is the first of three Government Decision Gates and, if approved Government at Decision Gate 1, then Decision Gate 2: Pre-Tender Approval requires submission of a detailed project brief and procurement strategy which will be considered at that juncture.