Dublin: SIPTU has urged the Irish government to implement a comprehensive framework to protect the rights of foreign workers expected to be recruited for the construction of the €9.5 billion MetroLink project. The union’s demand follows MetroLink Programme Director Sean Sweeney’s disclosure to the Oireachtas Transport Committee that approximately 8,000 overseas workers will be required once construction begins in 2028.
With no domestic companies possessing the scale or expertise to manage such a megaproject, major contracts are expected to be awarded to international firms. SIPTU emphasised that foreign workers must be guaranteed the same wages, benefits, and legal protections currently afforded to Irish construction workers. The union also insisted that clear, enforceable plans be put in place for workers’ accommodation to prevent overcrowding and substandard living conditions.
Accommodation Strategy Essential, Union Warns
SIPTU cautioned that bringing thousands of foreign workers to Dublin without a defined accommodation plan would cause significant strain on housing and could force workers into unsuitable living spaces. “We cannot bring workers to Dublin without deciding where they will live. Without an accommodation strategy, it will lead to overcrowding and a crisis,” the union stated.
The union also stressed that maintaining two tiers of workers in large projects is unacceptable. While Irish workers have long built national infrastructure, the country currently lacks sufficient skilled labour to meet both MetroLink requirements and its housing targets for 2030.
Mandatory Compliance With Sectoral Employment Order
Union organiser Fran McDonnell reiterated that all workers on the project must be covered under the Construction Sectoral Employment Order (SEO) from their first day on site. “There must be no loopholes. Workers must not be imported under inferior terms. Recruitment and contractual arrangements will be closely scrutinised,” he said. McDonnell also emphasised that no contractor or subcontractor should be allowed to bypass legal standards.
‘Olympic Village’-Style Housing Proposed
Brian Caulfield, Professor of Transport at Trinity College Dublin, said Ireland must “think outside the box” to accommodate such a large temporary workforce. Speaking on RTÉ Radio’s Morning Ireland, he proposed the construction of a temporary housing complex similar to an Olympic Village, which could later be repurposed as student accommodation or long-term residential units.
He referenced historical precedents, including worker camps built during construction of the Ardnacrusha Power Plant nearly a century ago. Caulfield suggested identifying land along or near the new metro line to house 5,000–6,000 workers, creating a high-density, transit-oriented development that would become a permanent asset for Dublin once construction ends.
MetroLink’s 19km route will run from the south of Dublin’s city centre to Swords in north County Dublin, with 16 stations. The new line will be largely underground, using extensive tunnelling and cut-and-cover techniques. It will link Dublin Airport with key urban centres and rapidly expanding northern suburbs.
MetroLink Programme Director Sean Sweeney confirmed to the committee that international companies will lead the major contracts and integrate foreign specialists with Irish workers. Construction is currently scheduled to begin in 2028, following ongoing preparatory work.
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