Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE)
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267. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his attention has been drawn to the fact that Transport Infrastructure Ireland has an agreement with a company (details supplied) in respect of its development; his views on whether this agreement removes objectivity in the feasibility studies and indicates that the NTA and TII have already decided the outcome and will proceed with their preference of Charlemont-Beechwood; if he will instruct the NTA to promptly publish the feasibility studies and demonstrate that they were fully objective regarding the three possible options; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26408/21]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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As the Deputy is aware, these particular construction works relate to a private development being constructed by a private company pursuant to a planning permission granted by An Bord Pleanála.

Details of that planning permission and conditions attached thereto are available to view on the website of An Bord Pleanála.

In relation to MetroLink, the Preferred Route for that scheme is the one consulted upon during 2019 and which is available to view on the dedicated project website, metrolink.ie. The Preliminary Business Case has been prepared on the basis of that route and my Department is currently reviewing that Preliminary Business Case in line with the Public Spending Code’s Decision Gate 1. Subject to Government approval and the completion of all necessary planning/environmental documentation, the scheme will then be submitted to An Bord Pleanála for planning approval, known as a Railway Order.

The progression of the MetroLink scheme is separate to the review of the Transport Strategy for the Greater Dublin Area which is currently underway in line with the Dublin Transport Authority Act 2008 (as amended). As part of that review, future possible metro options are under consideration and that consideration will take place as part of the overall review of the Strategy. I understand a second round of public consultation on  a draft Strategy will take place later in the year and a final Strategy will be ready for approval in 2022.