---

Group to prepare bill on MetroLink delivery

The Government has approved plans to set up a dedicated statutory body to ensure that Dublin’s MetroLink project is completed.

The Department of Transport said that the body would work under the aegis of the Minister for Transport and would be responsible for delivering the project.

This proposal follows last month’s decision by An Coimisiún Pleanála to grant approval for the MetroLink Railway Order.

Importance

The department said that the plan for a new body reflected the size and importance of MetroLink for the country.

It said that a working group would now be set up to look at the practical and legislative issues to be addressed in establishing the dedicated body.

This work will include preparing the general scheme of a bill to help give legislative effect to the plan.

MetroLink is a fully automated and mostly underground metro route of around 19km in length, from Swords to Dublin city centre, via Dublin Airport.