PAC warns Metrolink must not exceed €9.5 billion

The Committee of Public Accounts (PAC) has concerns over the cost estimates for the proposed Metrolink project in Dublin and has called on the State agencies involved to ensure that the cost does not exceed €9.5 billion.

The concerns were raised in a report published today, and PAC has made recommendations on issues that were discussed with the Department of Transport, National Transport Authority and Transport Infrastructure Ireland in a series of meetings in 2021 and 2022.

The Committee said it will actively monitor the value-for-money achieved from an estimated €70 billion worth of transport projects in the National Development Plan 2021-2030 (NDP) and the NTA’s Transport Strategy for the Greater Dublin Area 2016-2035, including Metrolink.

PAC said: “The most likely cost for the construction of the Metrolink system was estimated at €9.5 billion by the Department in April 2023, with the most credible capital cost ranging from €7.16 billion to €12.25 billion, although some estimates for the project allow for a cost as high as €21.5 billion.”

“The Committee is concerned at the range of estimates and expresses its wish that the cost of the project does not exceed €9.5 billion, particularly in light of other public infrastructure projects such as the National Children’s Hospital, which is projected to be completed significantly over-budget.”

The report makes 11 recommendations on five issues examined by the Committee, which evaluating Exchequer spending on public transport infrastructure projects chief among them, along wit “ineffective Exchequer expenditure on key public transport infrastructure projects.”

Sinn Féin TD Brian Stanley, Cathaoirleach of PAC, said “the need for a Metro system for Dublin was first proposed in the Platform for Change strategy published in 2000 and was due to be in operation by 2010. Planning permission for the Metro North line was granted in 2011 but was later suspended by the then Government due to the economic downturn.”

“A new Metro North project was announced by the NTA in September 2015, with services due to commence in 2026. Metrolink succeeded that project and according to correspondence from the Department in April 2023, Metrolink services are currently projected to commence in 2034. The Committee is frustrated at how long it has taken from the initial proposal for a metro system in Dublin, to the most recent date for completion.”

“According to that timeline, Metrolink will be delivered 23 years after planning permission was granted to the original Metro North project and 34 years after it was first proposed in Platform for Change,” he added.

PAC also noted that approximately €300 million has been spent up to the end of March 2023 on Metrolink, the abandoned Metro North and the Metro West projects.

Deputy Stanley said: “It is imperative for the final cost, amongst other reasons, that Metrolink is completed on time, as it has been estimated that each year of delay would add additional costs of between €100 million and €300 million, in addition to delaying the economic and social benefits associated with Metrolink.”

The TD added “achieving a significant modal shift from private car to public transport, or indeed walking or cycling, would help the State achieve a sizeable reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. The Committee underlines the need for effective spending in the area of public transport to achieve this goal.”