Metrolink planning permission finally granted after years of delay

Image credit: metrolink.ie

After years of debate, revisions and public consultations, Dublin’s long-awaited Metrolink project has officially been granted full planning permission by An Coimisiún Pleanála — marking the most significant step forward yet for Ireland’s largest public transport scheme.

The approval clears the way for a fully-automated metro line running from Swords to Charlemont, stretching roughly 18–19 kilometres and featuring 16 stations. The route will link key residential and employment areas including Ballymun, Glasnevin, Phibsborough and St Stephen’s Green, and crucially provide a direct rail connection between Dublin Airport and the city centre for the first time.

According to current plans, the full end-to-end journey will take about 25 minutes, with an airport-to-city trip expected to be completed in just 20 minutes. The line will also integrate with DART, Luas and Irish Rail services, significantly improving connectivity across Dublin’s wider transport network.

Transport Minister Darragh O’Brien called the announcement “hugely significant for Dublin, the surrounding counties, and for the country as a whole.” He said the Metrolink would “transform how people move around the capital” while supporting new housing and economic growth along its corridor.

The €10 billion-plus project will now progress to the next stage — procurement and the tendering process — overseen by Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII). While final Cabinet approval and enabling legislation are still pending, TII has confirmed that early preparatory works will begin once the delivery authority is established.

Construction is unlikely to begin before 2028, with completion expected sometime in the 2030s. Officials have acknowledged that costs have risen beyond initial projections of €7–€12 billion, citing inflation and the complexity of tunnelling beneath the city.

Despite the milestone decision, some uncertainty remains. Legal challenges from local groups opposed to elements of the route are still possible, and timelines could shift depending on the outcome of those proceedings.

For now, however, today’s approval represents a major breakthrough for a project that has been in development in various forms for more than two decades — and one that promises to reshape Dublin’s public transport landscape for generations to come.

You can learn more about the project on the Metrolink website.