Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) has spent more than €9 million acquiring the first four homes on Dartmouth Square West in Ranelagh, as part of preparations for the construction of Dublin's long-awaited MetroLink project.
The Victorian properties, which back onto the planned Charlemont MetroLink station, were purchased for an average of around €2 million each following a mediation agreement with local residents who had mounted a High Court judicial review against the project. The legal challenge threatened to delay construction of the underground railway by several years before an agreement was reached late last year.
According to reports, TII ultimately expects to purchase between 10 and 15 homes on Dartmouth Square West, with the total cost of the acquisitions estimated at up to €34 million. MetroLink programme director Seán Sweeney previously indicated the Dartmouth Square purchases alone would exceed €30 million, depending on the final number of properties acquired.
The Dartmouth Square agreement was seen as a significant breakthrough for the State's largest-ever transport infrastructure project, removing one of the biggest legal obstacles facing the development.
“The withdrawal of the judicial review provides critical clarity for the market. With this matter resolved, our focus now is on progressing enabling works and advancing procurement,” MetroLink programme director Seán Sweeney said after the settlement was reached.
The house purchases are only one element of the extensive property acquisition programme required for MetroLink. Earlier this year, the State agreed to purchase a major site on O'Connell Street for approximately €80 million to facilitate construction of a city centre station. Agreements have also been reached to acquire an apartment block on Townsend Street, where another station will be built.
The property purchases come as questions continue over the overall cost of MetroLink.
The project was previously estimated at around €9.5 billion four years ago. However, recent reports have suggested the final construction bill could approach €19 billion, largely driven by construction inflation and updated cost estimates.
Transport Minister Darragh O'Brien has disputed reports that costs have doubled.
“I don't accept that figure,” the Minister said, adding that he has updated cost estimates which will be presented to Cabinet ministers in September before any revised project cost is published.
Government officials have acknowledged that the project will cost substantially more than originally forecast, although no official revised figure has yet been released.
MetroLink is planned as an 18.8-kilometre, mostly underground railway linking Swords and Dublin Airport with the city centre before terminating at Charlemont. The line will include 16 stations, with trains expected to operate every few minutes during peak periods.
Once operational, the journey between Dublin Airport and the city centre is expected to take approximately 20–25 minutes, with passenger services targeted for the mid-2030s, subject to construction progressing on schedule.
