The director of the MetroLink programme has indicated that paying more than €30 million to acquire homes near a planned station in south Dublin represents a pragmatic decision aimed at avoiding costly delays to the transport project.
MetroLink Programme Director Seán Sweeney said the cost of purchasing properties in Dartmouth Square, Ranelagh, would be significantly lower than the potential financial impact of prolonged legal action. He noted that a judicial review could have delayed construction by one to two years, with estimated costs of up to €1 billion per year.
Transport Infrastructure Ireland confirmed on Christmas Eve that it had reached an agreement with residents of Dartmouth Square to buy their homes. In return, residents agreed to withdraw legal proceedings against the project. Mr Sweeney said between 10 and 15 large redbrick houses, located beside the proposed Charlemont station, are expected to be purchased.
He explained that the homes may be used during construction and would ultimately be resold, meaning the State would retain a valuable asset rather than incur a permanent cost. Independent valuations will be used to determine a fair and transparent purchase price for each property.
Discussions are also under way with residents in Glasnevin, where an apartment complex at Dalcassian Downs lies close to another planned station. Around 50 apartments, valued at an estimated €300,000 to €400,000 each, could be eligible for a voluntary purchase scheme, subject to meeting impact criteria similar to those applied in Ranelagh.
Mr Sweeney said the option to sell would remain open to affected residents for up to two years, with the final cost to the State depending on uptake. He acknowledged that publicity surrounding the Dartmouth Square agreement could prompt other residents along the route to seek similar arrangements, although a defined threshold of disruption would need to be met before negotiations could begin.
MetroLink will run for 19 kilometres between Charlemont and Swords, with stops including Dublin Airport, Dublin City University and the Mater Hospital. Mr Sweeney said the approach to purchasing affected properties has been used elsewhere along the route over the past year and does not represent a change in policy.
Labour TD Marie Sherlock said residents of the north Dublin apartment complex should be offered equivalent terms to those in Dartmouth Square. She highlighted the scale of disruption expected during construction and stressed the importance of enabling residents to remain within their communities, with access to comparable housing.
Mr Sweeney said decisions on how acquired properties will be used during the project have not yet been finalised, although options include accommodating project administration staff. He confirmed that the project is due to go to tender within weeks, with more accurate cost estimates expected once contractors submit detailed proposals.
While initial estimates suggest construction could begin in late 2027 or 2028, the final timeline and budget will not be confirmed until procurement is complete. Mr Sweeney said the removal of the judicial review has already had a positive effect on projected costs and scheduling, with updated figures due to be presented to Government in March. The first MetroLink trains are expected to enter service in the mid-2030s.
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