A metro line for Dublin, originally promised about half a century ago, and subject to on-again off-again decisions through the economic vicissitudes and changes of government in recent decades, finally appeared to be taking some shape two years ago. An application by State body Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) was made to An Bord Pleanála.
The application in September 2022 was for an 18.8km, mostly underground, line from Swords to Charlemont, close to Ranelagh, with 16 stops serving areas including Dublin Airport and the city centre. TII anticipated a 12-18 month planning process at the time. In August 2023 the board said it would hold public hearings on the project. The hearings opened on February 19th of this year and closed on schedule on March 28th.
Seeing Metrolink back in the headlines this week might have led to the assumption that a decision had finally been made on the line. Alas not. With just two days to go before the end of the hearings in March, board inspector Barry O’Donnell said there would be a “requirement to re-advertise” the project due to the amount of new information – close to 200 documents – which had been submitted by TII during the hearing.
Public consultation on the additional information was reopened in August and closed earlier this month, with 41 new submissions made to the board. The vast majority come from residents or residents’ groups. In many cases, people are seeking assurances from TII in relation to compensation if their properties are damaged, or clarity in relation to traffic management during the construction work, all of which will probably be manageable for TII.
Where the agency faces bigger problems is in relation to the seemingly hard-line stance taken by another state body, the Office of Public Works (OPW) in opposition to the St Stephen’s Green Metrolink station.
While the OPW in its new submission says it has reached agreement with TII in relation to the majority of its properties along the line, it maintained the plans for the St Stephen’s Green station would cause “profound and permanent” damage. It will be up to the board to determine how this, or any other submission, affects its eventual decision. It is also open to the board to decide whether the new submissions made require the reopening of the oral hearing to allow further questioning of TII.
It might yet go down this route. But commuters on the proposed route, many sitting in daily traffic with few other options, will hope that a decision is forthcoming shortly, and the metro is finally built. Those affected must have a say when major projects are planned – and in some cases projects may be turned down – but with massive investments planned in the years ahead, much faster decision-making is needed.