The Dublin Metrolink project is overpriced and unsuited to Dublin’s needs, a leading environmentalist has said.
Duncan Stewart was speaking after the Office of Public Works (OPW) doubled down on its warning that placing a metro stop at St Stephen’s Green would have profound negative impacts on the park.
The OPW had previously raised concerns around the issue in February; however in its latest planning submission, it warned that the current plan will have a 'direct, severe, negative, profound and permanent' impact on the heritage value of the Dublin park.
On Newstalk Breakfast today, leading architect and environmentalist Duncan Stewart said the Stephen’s Green stop was ‘only a very small part’ of the major problems with the Metrolink.
“A tunnel is very unpredictable to build – and a very expensive, and a very carbon intensive structure to construct,” he said.
"There are major problems with it, but it's the exorbitant cost that the taxpayer will have to pay for this – when it should, by the way – be the airlines that pay for this, and not the taxpayer.
“The amount of money that this is going to be would be equivalent to €20,000 from every family in Dublin to build this over this decade.”
A digital mock-up of a Metrolink entrance from the inside of St Stephen's Green Park in Dublin. Image: Metrolink gallery. 29/10/24.Mr Stewart said that while Dublin does need better public transport connections, the Metrolink will not serve those needs.
“Dublin is a very low-density city,” he said.
“The cost of building, and servicing – and even operating a tunnel that's over 18 kilometres long is not a solution for a low-density, sprawling city like Dublin.
“It will not be effective.”
View this post on Instagram
Mr Stewart said the cost of the Metrolink project could spiral in the same way as the new National Children’s Hospital if it goes ahead as planned.
The overall project is expected to cost between €9 billion and €12 billion, and is earmarked for completion in 2035.
Listen back here:
