Written answers

Tuesday, 19 October 2021

Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport

Public Transport

Photo of Noel GrealishNoel Grealish (Galway West, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

307. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if there is now no plan to construct a MetroLink southern route towards Terenure and Rathfarnham or towards Belfield and Stillorgan (details supplied); the reason these routes are not being proposed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51223/21]

Photo of Eamon RyanEamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I think it important to set out what are two different processes currently underway both of which relate to the potential future development of metro in Dublin.

Firstly we have the MetroLink project, which is likely the largest ever public investment project in the history of the State.  It faces imminent and important milestones in the coming months and these milestones will determine its progress in the coming years.

The first milestone is Government’s approval of the Preliminary Business Case and secondly there is the submission of a Railway Order application to An Bord Pleanála.  On that first milestone, my Department has received a draft Preliminary Business Case for MetroLink.  This represents Decision Gate 1 under the Public Spending Code and the Preliminary Business Case is currently under review.  

For major projects, like MetroLink, the Public Spending Code requires a Government decision and I expect to seek such a Government decision in the near future.  If approved by Government, that will allow MetroLink to move into the statutory planning system, subject to the completion of the necessary planning and environmental documentation.   

The second impending milestone is the submission of Railway Order applications for MetroLink. That application requires the finalisation of an extensive set of documentation, including environmental impact assessment reports, and that work is ongoing in relation to this project.   

I understand that an extensive body of work remains in relation to finalising the preliminary design, completing the required environmental impact assessment reports and closing out property referencing issues.  This should be completed during Q1 next year and, subject to the Government decision mentioned above, the project will then be ready to seek planning permission. 

Secondly we have the statutory review of the Transport Strategy for the Greater Dublin Area. The Dublin Transport Authority Act 2008 stipulates that the Strategy must be reviewed every six years and this review provides an opportunity to re-examine and re-consider proposals for inclusion in the revised Strategy. The National Transport Authority (NTA) has stated that, as part of its review, it is considering whether additional metro routes, above and beyond MetroLink, should be included in any revised Strategy.  

The NTA plan to publish the draft Strategy for public consultation shortly and there will be a six- week consultation process with the full draft Strategy document and a number of background reports available on the NTA’s website. Following the conclusion of the consultation process, the NTA will review and assess all of the submissions and once finalized, the Strategy will be submitted to for Ministerial approval in accordance with the legislative requirements. 

Inclusion in any revised Strategy is the first step in what is a very detailed and often lengthy process to enable projects move from the strategic support, enabled by inclusion in a Transport Strategy, to being a project with a Preliminary Business Case seeking approval to enter the statutory planning process.

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.