Dublin: The construction of the Dublin Metrolink will require approximately 8,000 workers, many of whom will need to be recruited from abroad, the project director Sean Sweeney informed the Oireachtas Transport Committee. He explained that no Irish company currently possesses the capacity or specialist expertise required for a project of this scale, meaning that major contracts will be awarded to international firms, which will bring their own workforce for the construction phase. Accommodation and related facilities for these workers are being planned in coordination with the Land Development Agency.
Sweeney also confirmed that a comprehensive re-costing of the project will be published early next year. The existing estimate of €9.5 billion was based on figures from 2014–2019 and updated in 2022, but he said the amount no longer reflects current realities, particularly the substantial rise in construction costs. Revised tender designs will be completed next month, and an independent pricing firm will validate the updated cost projections. More accurate expenditure figures are expected shortly thereafter.
Sweeney, appointed programme director in June of last year, previously served as CEO of Auckland’s City Rail Link project, which is due to open in 2026.
Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) Chief Executive Lorcan O’Connor told the committee that the revised cost must account for inflation, updated specifications and new commitments. He noted that the updated figures will be submitted to the government once the review is complete. O’Connor expressed confidence that the metro could open by the mid-2030s.
The long-awaited Metrolink project achieved a major milestone last month when it finally secured planning permission, clearing the way for the next phase.
The approximately 19-kilometre, mostly underground rail line will connect Swords to Dublin Airport, Charlemont near St Stephen’s Green, and ultimately to Sandyford, with an estimated cost now approaching €11 billion. The project includes 16 proposed stations and will use fully automated trains, expected to run every three minutes.
The government is preparing to establish a dedicated Metrolink Delivery Body and begin the tendering process for major construction contracts in 2026. Experts estimate that on-site construction could begin in 2027 or 2028. Although an official opening date has not been set, the project is widely regarded as a transformational investment that will alleviate congestion and significantly improve connectivity across the capital.
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