Seán Sweeney, the programme director for Dublin’s long-awaited MetroLink underground rail project, has announced his resignation less than two years after taking on the €550,000-a-year role. The 67-year-old New Zealander cited family reasons for stepping down, saying the prolonged separation from his partner, children, and grandchildren—who live over 10,000 miles away—had become unsustainable.
In a statement, Sweeney described leading MetroLink as “one of the greatest professional privileges of my career.” He added that his role had been to get the programme up and running and expressed pride in leaving it supported by a highly experienced executive team, with full government backing, a Railway Order in place, and funding secured for construction. “MetroLink is no longer a ‘proposed’ plan; it is a live delivery project,” he said.
The €9.5 billion project, which will run 19km from Swords to Charlemont, serving Dublin Airport and the city centre, is expected to cost up to 25% more than previous estimates, with updated figures soon to be presented to the Government. Enabling works are scheduled to begin this year, with construction contracts expected before the end of 2026, and full completion projected for the mid-2030s. Sweeney emphasized the strong market appetite and political support for the project, highlighting the expertise of the team he leaves behind.
Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) chief executive Lorcan O’Connor expressed “a mix of gratitude and regret” at Sweeney’s departure and confirmed that Michael Flynn, deputy programme director, will take interim charge while an open competition is launched to appoint a permanent successor. Minister for Transport Darragh O’Brien reassured the public that Sweeney’s exit would not delay the project, affirming full government and departmental support for the MetroLink team.
Permission for the project was granted in September 2025, but it faced legal challenges last November from Ranelagh residents. The dispute was resolved after TII agreed to purchase homes on Dartmouth Square in a deal reportedly worth over €30 million, with Sweeney playing a key role in negotiations.
In addition to his salary, Sweeney received €30,000 in relocation expenses, which he will not have to repay, and he will not be receiving an exit package. Reflecting on his tenure, Sweeney said he looked forward to seeing the first tunnel boring machines in operation, confident that the project’s foundations are “rock solid.
About Metrolink:
More than €200 million has been spent on the long-delayed MetroLink project over the past two years, despite major construction work yet to begin, newly released documents show.
The ambitious transport scheme, designed to link Charlemont to Swords via Dublin Airport through an underground rail line, has faced repeated setbacks, including planning challenges and legal action.
According to briefing material prepared by the Department of Transport for the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), over €200m was expended across 2024 and 2025 on planning, design, staffing and preparatory works. In 2024 alone, approximately €65m, including VAT, was spent advancing the project.
Among the milestones recorded last year were the appointment of Seán Sweeney as programme director and the project’s progression through the statutory planning process. This included oral hearings and public consultations overseen by An Coimisiún Pleanála.
While enabling works have been under way since 2024, substantive construction is not expected to commence until late 2027 or early 2028. The first phases of the project were put out to tender in early February.
The scheme also faced a High Court challenge late last year when 19 residents of Dartmouth Square in Ranelagh secured permission to seek a judicial review of the planning approval. The legal action was ultimately withdrawn following mediation, after agreement was reached to purchase up to 15 homes in the area.
Mr Sweeney previously defended the reported €30m cost of acquiring the properties, describing it as “a no-brainer” in order to prevent further delays to the project.
Looking ahead, the Government has committed €2bn in funding for MetroLink between 2026 and 2030 under the National Development Plan, signalling its intention to push the project forward despite earlier obstacles.
