Grace Boland (Dublin Fingal West, Fine Gael)
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507. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the way in which the absence of a mainline rail link to Dublin Airport aligns with Ireland's climate and sustainable transport commitments under the Climate Action Plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42861/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy may be aware, Ireland has set ambitious targets of reducing carbon emissions in the transport sector by 50% relative to 2018 levels by 2030, and achieving net zero emissions by 2050. In order to help achieve these targets, the Climate Action Plan sets out a range of transport measures based on an Avoid, Shift and Improve framework.

Providing high-capacity frequent public transport projects, including DART+, BusConnects and MetroLink, forms a key part of the Shift element of this framework, which aims to shift people towards using more sustainable public transport.

MetroLink will provide a high-capacity public transport link to Swords and Dublin City Centre, serving key destinations, including Dublin Airport.

A significant milestone in the progression of the MetroLink project was cleared in July 2022, when the Minister for Transport secured approval for the project from the Cabinet under Decision Gate 1 of the then-Public Spending Code. This approval enabled the project to move to the planning application stage, and in September 2022 Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) submitted a Railway Order application to An Coimisiún Pleanála. A planning decision is awaited from An Coimisiún Pleanála.

Another key milestone was reached in September 2024 when Dr Séan Sweeney started as the Programme Director for MetroLink. Dr. Sweeney has three decades in leadership roles on major infrastructure projects in Australia, New Zealand, and the US.

Subject to securing planning approval, and no successful legal challenges, TII will prepare a Detailed Project Brief and Procurement Strategy for consideration at Approval Gate 2, in line with the Infrastructure Guidelines. Dependent on the outcome of the planning process, construction of MetroLink is earmarked to commence over the coming years with a view to operation around the mid-2030s.