Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE)
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59. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if it is still the plan to appraise the three options on the southside of Dublin in relation to MetroLink (details supplied). [56418/21]

Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE)
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60. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will address a series of matters in relation to the continuing of MetroLink on the southside of Dublin (details supplied). [56419/21]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 59 and 60 together.

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 two imminent and important milestones in the coming months - Government approval of the Preliminary Business Case and the submission of a Railway Order application to An Bord Pleanála.

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), as part of its review, considered whether additional metro routes, above and beyond MetroLink, should be included in any revised Strategy.

As you are probably aware, the NTA have published the draft Strategyfor public consultation and there is a six- week consultation process with the full draft Strategydocument and a number of background reports (including analysis in relation to future metro options) available on the NTA’s website www.nationaltransport.ie/gda. The deadline for receipt of submissions is Friday 17th December.

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 Strategyis 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.