Francis Noel Duffy (Dublin South West, Green Party)
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60. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will consider the proposed extension of MetroLink from St. Stephen's Green to south-west Dublin and UCD as originally agreed rather than having it terminate north of Beechwood, in Ranelagh; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14731/21]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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As the Deputy is aware, Transport Infrastructure Ireland and the National Transport Authority published their “Preferred Route” proposals for MetroLink, extending from Swords to Charlemont, in 2019 for public review and feedback. 

Since that publication, work has continued to finalise the technical design, undertake the necessary surveys and investigations and prepare the necessary documentation required to support a planning consent application for the project.

The Transport Strategy for the Greater Dublin Area was adopted in early 2016 and, in accordance with the applicable legislation, is required to be reviewed every six years, meaning that a review must to be completed by early 2022.  The National Transport Authority (NTA) has commenced this exercise and it is expected to be fully concluded during the next 12 months.  The review will consider current and future needs of the region, and the appropriate transport provision to serve future travel demand throughout the Greater Dublin Area including the south and south west corridors into Dublin. 

The examination of a possible metro system extension to Rathfarnham / Knocklyon forms one of the work streams relating to the updating of the transport strategy.  Initial assessment work on this potential metro extension has commenced and the study will be completed during the coming months.  In addition, an assessment will also be undertaken of the case for an alternative metro extension in the south east sector, potentially serving UCD and Sandyford. 

The NTA intends that both of those studies will be released as background reports to accompany the draft transport strategy when it is published for public consultation later this year.  This will provide the opportunity for members of the public and interested parties to review and provide their views on these studies and their implications for the draft transport strategy.