Week of two halves for Minister O’Brien

Minister For Transport Darragh O’Brien has secured approval for €24.3 billion in transport expenditure – but is now facing a legal challenge to the Metrolink by Southside residents.

The funding will go towards major projects such as the Metrolink, DART+, and BusConnects.

Minister O’Brien said, “the plan for transport sets out an ambitious programme of investment in transport infrastructure and services over the next five years. It reflects the government’s determination to build a transport system which is efficient, low-carbon, and responsive to the evolving needs of our people, our economy, and our environment.”

In terms of specifics for Dublin, the 40-page document mentions that congestion costs the Greater Dublin Area roughly €330 million a year, which is projected to rise to €1.5 billion a year by 2040.

The Department of Transport noted a 2024 report, which gave Dublin the dubious distinction of being the third most-congested city in Europe.

The document notes that tackling congestion is proving to be a barrier to further investment in Ireland, with the new round of funding looking to tackle Ireland’s persistent issues with traffic congestion.

Per the report, the DART+ fleet is currently in safety testing, with an expectation for the services to begin in 2027.

On the Northside, construction of the Spencer Dock station will be funded by the NDP, which will be a major part of the DART+ West scheme.

Spencer Dock station will serve as the start point and a depot for the DART+ West scheme, which will expand rail services on the M3 Parkway and Maynooth lines.

Construction timelines, a millstone around any Irish infrastructure project and are always subject to change, states that the DART+ West project will begin construction by 2027.

The report explores O’Brien’s previous ministerial brief, his tenure as Minister for Housing.

The National Planning Framework said it “explicitly” acknowledges “historic deficits in pent-up unmet housing demand,” in Dublin and the Mid-Eastern Region.

A polite way of saying not enough homes have been built, the report says the housing crisis “has the potential to undermine national competitiveness and social cohesion.”

They noted that new housing developments drive demand for local transport services, and transport infrastructure is also an “essential enabler” of housing infrastructure.

The NPF said that greenfield and brownfield sites, spread across Dublin’s 4 local government areas (Fingal, Dublin City, South Dublin and Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown), has the potential to deliver up to 60,000 homes, which could translate to 100,000 people being added to the population.

For that reason, they state, upgrades to transport infrastructure are necessary in the context of Dublin.

Minister O’Brien said, “this €24.3 billion investment marks a transformative moment for Ireland’s transport system.”

“It is not just about building infrastructure—it is about shaping the kind of transport system we want, delivering sustainable and accessible options to connect us all.”

The Dublin Fingal East TD said, “by integrating innovation, climate action, and regional development, we are creating a transport system that supports economic growth, protects our environment, and improves quality of life for every citizen.”

Green transport spokesperson Feljin Jose said that the Department of Transport’s spending plan is “bad.”

Summarising the plan, the Cabra-Glasnevin councillor noted, “roads are in, public transport is out. A lot of public transport projects are being put on the long finger to make funding available for new roads.”

Jose accused the Department of Transport of raiding the Infrastructure, Climate and Nature Fund, which was set up by the Greens in their last term in government, to fund the Metrolink.

TD Roderic O’Gorman dubbed the plan “an act of national self-sabotage.”

“There’s no vision for a system that could be better or more efficient, and no political will to take a big swing and invest in the kind of public transport that would change people’s lives.”

This week was a week of two halves for O’Brien; the news of spending for Ireland’s public transport system was matched by a smaller victory for O’Brien, the full reopening of Luas services on the Northside.

Since late August, Luas Red Line services between Connolly and The Point have been halted following an explosion at George’s Dock.

Commuters were forced to make alternative arrangements, and Luas services were curtailed nearly entirely in Dublin 1 since late August, but the service was reopened on Thursday (27).

Speaking at the re-opening, Minister O’Brien said,” I’d like to congratulate TII, Transdev, and the NTA, in addition to the agencies, contractors and utility providers for all their collaboration and work to ensure the safe and timely return of Luas passenger services.”

“I’m delighted to see the services reopening just in time for the busy Christmas season, and thank passengers for their patience and understanding throughout this period.”

However, news of the major transport spending splurge was overshadowed by news that Southside residents have objected to the Metrolink running through their area, likely causing another delay in the long-delayed project.

As reported in Southside People, a group of 20 applications in Ranelagh (Dartmouth Square, to be precise) raised objections to planned Metrolink works in their area, with the Charlemont terminus scheduled to be near their homes.

One submission argued that the temporary loss of part of their garden would “have a very material impact on the value of our home.”

The Dublin Chamber said that “emergency legislation” is needed to make sure the MetroLink project is built (or at the very least, gets off the ground) during the lifetime of this government.

“The time for patience has long expired, and the government must now step in decisively,” they said in a statement.

“Dublin is being held hostage by an outdated planning system that allows critical national infrastructure to be endlessly stalled by a tiny minority,” said Eoghan Quigley, President of Dublin Chamber.

“These judicial reviews are not about improving the project, they are about stopping it indefinitely. Dublin simply cannot tolerate this any longer,” he said.

Labour TD Duncan Smith said, “while every citizen has the right to seek legal recourse, the reality is that this action risks delaying a project that Dublin urgently needs.”

O’Brien’s constituency colleague in Dublin Fingal East, Smith said, “MetroLink has been through years of consultation, planning, hearings, and scrutiny. It is one of the most thoroughly examined infrastructure projects in the history of the State. At this point, further obstacles serve only to push back delivery timelines and increase costs for the taxpayer.”

The Labour TD noted, “we have already seen a huge spike in commuting times over the last number of months, which only MetroLink can tackle. So many of us have been stuck on the M1 and M50 and the problem gets worse by the week. Every delay only serves to slow down progress on a project that will cut congestion, reduce emissions, and fundamentally improve the quality of life in our city.”