Minister told the estimated 7 to 12 Billion Metrolink could rise to 23 billion

kneemos

https://www.irishtimes.com/transport/2025/03/10/cost-of-long-delayed-metrolink-project-could-rise-to-more-than-23bn-minister-told/

There was a Chinese company years ago that offered to build it for free in exchange for a few decades of operating profits.

Glaceon

It’ll never happen. Finglas Luas extension and a DART spur at Clongriffin are more likely.

cnocbui

The CSO couldn't tell me how much the government spends per head of population by county. I would still like to know the answer, though I suspect the government is very happy such data is not available.

I believe the amount spent on public transport for Dublin would seem more than slightly disproportionate, given 60% of the population doesn't live there, were anyone to look at the issue, were the data available.

While the residents of Dublin bleat about their lack of public transport, people have been on trolleys, due to a 700 odd bed shortage at Limerick regional hospital for at least 23 years, and people have and are dying with regularity as a consequence.

There should be no metro link to Dublin airport 'till a lot of money is spent on rectifying infrastructure inadequacies in regional areas.

L1011

23bn is a 95th percentile cost, e.g. assuming astoundingly high inflation and every possible thing going wrong.

If it gets to 23bn, pints will be €20.

The Irish Times has been against it since day 1 and will print any old **** that's negative on it.

geographica

23 bill means final price north of 30 billion in this country

clowns

BlueSkyDreams

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123258678#Comment_123258678

Dublin earns the vast majority of the money in the country and 40%+ of the population live in the greater dublin area.

Taxes from businesses based in Dublin and employees living in the capital heavily subsidise the rest of the country as it is.

The likes of Limerick and Mayo cannot afford to pay for themselves.

L1011

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123258688#Comment_123258688

In this case, it doesn't; cause the paper has deliberately picked an implausible worst case scenario figure because they want to poison the well of public opinion on it.

Expected cost in reality is 10bn.

cnocbui

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123258704#Comment_123258704

A link to taxes levied by County vs expenditure by county, please.

Given revenue raised from Apple would be attributable to Cork not to mention some major pharmaceutical companies being located in Cork and Limerick…

Gloomtastic!

I was in Brescia near Milan last year, a city of 200,000 people. They had a metro about 100 metres below ground and about 14 kilometres long. Cost less than €600million.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brescia_Metro#:~:text=In%20April%202003%2C%20a%20%E2%82%AC,work%20on%20the%20project%20commenced.

Outsource the whole project to the Italians I say.

cnocbui

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123258717#Comment_123258717

Ummm…. You sure that cost wasn't €900 million? https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Brescia_light_metro

Suckler

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123258634#Comment_123258634

I'd agree, Clongriffin is approx. 5kms away and the area is sparsely populated. A light rail loop to the terminals could take people from the airport to a train station the opposite sided of the M1.

Irish Aris

Metro in general is a great investment. Not sure though Dublin really needs it. The airport is less than 10km from the city center, a cost/benefit analysis (with or without the inevitable public sectors inefficiencies) should highlight that.

Just use the current public transport system more effectively, as other posters mentioned above.

geographica

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123258709#Comment_123258709

National childrens hospital started off at 400 million, up to about 2.5 billion now 🤷🏼‍♂️

Qrt

Regardless of cost, it needs to be built. Commuting anywhere else in Dublin via PT is painful if you’re not within 5KM of the city centre. We’ve one of the most congested cities in Europe. Buses can’t cope. The luas can’t cope as it. Cancelling it would be absolute lunacy.

magicbastarder

i'd just like to add to the chorus about the way the IT has reported this. 'could cost up to €23bn'

then: "The mooted cost is almost twice the highest previous estimate for the project, which was put at between €7.16 billion and €12.25 billion in 2021."

that second line abandons the caveat about it being a worst case scenario. and they've yet again trotted out well known expert on public transport, eh, michael mcdowell, to rail against it again today.

Gusser09

Its a clear indication that we need to find ways of doing things for cheaper in the country. Especially when it comes to infrastructure. How ? Im not sure to be honest. But if we keep going they way we are when a recession does hit we will have nothing of value to really show for huge corporate tax returns etc and thats a real shame.

Ive always thought we need to have a public infrastructure body with civil workers, engineers etc who specialise in this work. Dont be relying on the private sector to do everthing. That'll soften their cough when they stop getting paid sillt sums of public money for failing to deliver on time and on budget.

Boggles

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123258704#Comment_123258704

Dublin earns the vast majority of the money in the country

Really, does that include corporation tax?

Could you provide citation for your claim please.

ledwithhedwith

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123258905#Comment_123258905

lol

thatsdaft

How many bicycle sheds is that

kneemos

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123258891#Comment_123258891

It was in briefing documents given to Darragh O' Brien. Not sure exactly how you'd like The Times to report it.

hamburgham

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123258682#Comment_123258682

Yep because de northside would benefit.

Boggles

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123258709#Comment_123258709

Expected cost in reality is 10bn.

So only a billion per 1.88km?

Or more than half a million a meter?

I think even those numbers would poison public opinion to be fair.

highpitcheric

my first instincts are that im seeing a metro for metros sake, building it as a 'we have one too' project.

and why not make use of the surface rail line running by portmarnock which already runs into the city.

join up to that, and theres your airport to the docks line.

i havent been watching this whole thing and its not my wheelhouse, just my first thoughts.

doesnt seem that appealing tbh.

build a bus terminal at the airport instead. 10 different buses. off you go.

11.5 billion would probably get you some kind of outer city motorway, the m60.

dublin has too much anyway, and the boggers have too little.

Podge_irl

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123259007#Comment_123259007

Because it would take forever, would have nowhere near enough capacity and the capacity is completely constrained from being increased, and it leaves Swords pissing in the wind, which is a huge part of the point of Metrolink.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123258831#Comment_123258831

It is not a "metro to the airport" and Dublin absolutely needs it and will need more in future.

Deagol

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123258704#Comment_123258704

Have you any evidence whatsoever to back up that ridiculous assertion? Have you actually ever been outside Dublin to see what's there?

Do you think the 100's of large pharmaceutical companies based in Cork, Limerick, Galway, Mayo, Sligo, Longford, Kerry, Waterford etc, etc, contribute nothing to the countries economy? Do you think the 1000's of people employed in industrial estates' all over the country contribute nothing? What about the financial companies based in Cork / Limerick etc, do they contribute nothing?

The two largest Irish companies (CRH and Kerry group), have the vast majority of their operations outside of Dublin - do you think they contribute nothing?

Do you actually imagine somehow that people in Dublin pay more taxes? Is there some unknown 'living in Dublin' tax that the rest of us don't know about?

No one argues that Dublin needs decent public transport - but no more than any other region needs it. Spending the 23B euro quoted here though is plainly ridiculous to get a few people to the airport!

We could probably build a nice shiny new modern airport right beside an existing rail line for less money. Plus we could sell the land that the current airport sits on for a fair bundle?

Thelonious Monk

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123259038#Comment_123259038

Isn't 40% from Dublin region alone of GDP not the vast majority compared to other counties? And Dublin needs public transport no more than any other region? Ah here!

North County Dublin has a bigger population than limerick and galway combined, this will be the catchment area of the metro, swords and all the areas around there are growing like crazy.

Also the millions of people from all over Ireland that use the airport will benefit from this.

Dublin already props up other county councils with the property tax paid here too.

LambshankRedemption

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123258709#Comment_123258709

Sen Michael McDowell has been vocal about his opposition to the entire project for some time now. He was on multiple radio programmes today talking about it. Saying why it should be cancelled etc.

Of course nothing at all to do with the fact that the terminus is due to be built across the road from his house. And he doesnt want plebs near his home.

It is badly needed. Please lets get it done. I dont think I'll ever get to use it, but the country will need it.

zell12

Dublin Airport serves the entire country, is also a de facto bus terminal, nationwide bus routes go there. Prioritise buses and lanes to nearest train station instead. The quoted cost for a metro is lunacy

Thelonious Monk

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123259285#Comment_123259285

The dart lines wouldn't be able to handle all the extra passengers though

magicbastarder

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123258939#Comment_123258939

yes, it was. it was not the only figure in the briefing documents. but it was the only figure the IT chose to mention.

exactly how i'd have liked them to have reported it was to report the full spread of potential costs, not just the highest one; they do claim to be the newspaper of record for ireland.

prunudo

The Irish Times hates the idea of a Metro, and has done for a long time. They have constantly painted it in bad light, too expensive and a disruption to communities.

But equally it's been badly publicised by TII, Metrolink is about more than Airport to City Centre. It connects many communities from north Swords near the m1 through Ballymun, linking with the sligo trainline, luas and also Tara Street station. With option for further connections to new lines or extension to Sandyford.

The sooner they start building it the better.