O'Brien welcomes 'significant step' for Metrolink

Minister for Transport Darragh O'Brien has welcomed the withdrawal of an application by some residents for a judicial review of the Metrolink project in Dublin as a "really significant step forward". An artist's impression of the Charlemont Metro station "The mediation approach has worked," he said. He thanked residents for engaging and said, "now we have a clean planning permission we can activate... so it would be the next step now moving forward to procurement". Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland, the minister insisted that Metrolink will be delivered. He said he understands that the number of houses at Dartmouth Square near Ranelagh that will be bought as part of the outcome to the row "is in the region of ten" but that he didn't "have the exact details yet". "I wasn't directly involved in the discussions that are there," he said. The minister said he would not speculate on how much the purchase of the houses will cost, but said the cost "will be managed and will be managed carefully". He said he expected the tendering for Metrolink to take place in 2026, and that there are three consortia which have publicly stated that they will be bidding for the project. "With a fair wind and everything being in, we could start enabling works in 2027 and start building in 2027, towards the end of it [the year]," he said. "I think it's about a seven-eight-year build, so if we start in 2027, early '28, you've seven, eight years from there." He said he has asked Metrolink to consider opening the line in phases and that this is being "looked at". He said it is "too early" to say at this stage ahead of procurement how much the project will cost, but that a figure of €23 billion "wasn't an estimate that was given to me at all". He described that figure as being "too high" and "far off the mark". "The last preliminary business case was between €7.16bn and I think €12.25bn," he said. "I would imagine it to be higher than that. "I'm going to get the next assessment of projected investment early in the new year, I'm not going to speculate. "But when I get it, I can assure you that's something that will be discussed and will be publicised". Read more: Why Metrolink is a much needed connection for north Co Dublin

Preview: ~396 words