105. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Transport for an update on the programme for Government commitment to commission a new independent feasibility study on continuing MetroLink to Dublin South-West; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46573/26]

Sentiment score: 0.13

I thank the Minister. Getting MetroLink built and even getting it started in earnest will be a fantastic legacy for him as a Minister for Transport. He will have the full support of the Labour Party and, I think, others in opposition in getting that done in as speedy a manner as possible. We know how vital it is for our city. I am asking that he does not just stop when he gets to Charlemont. We know these tunnel-boring machines are going to be in the ground. I ask that the line be continued on to Dublin South-West through Rathmines, Terenure, Rathfarnham, Knocklyon, Firhouse and Tallaght. There is a group in the Public Gallery from St. Colmcille's in Knocklyon. Maybe by the time they are my age, the line might actually be built. This is not a new proposal. It is something Deputy Bacik has been requesting for a long time, as has the Metro South West Group. I understand that it needs to be done in a planned, integrated and sustainable manner. It makes sense to us that a line would not stop in the middle of the city but would continue out, and that this should be done in as efficient a manner as possible.

Sentiment score: 0.23

That is great. I thank the Minister for giving clear timelines. That will be much appreciated in the area. Dublin South-West has historically been underserved by public transport. We have a Luas line that starts in Tallaght but conspicuously avoids the rest of the constituency. We support the roll-out of BusConnects and would like to see that done as quickly as possible. There are some issues with routes, but broadly speaking we support that. As the Minister knows, no growing modern city can survive on bus routes alone. It requires light rail or a metro. Given the road space constraints in this particular area of the city, extending the metro through the city centre to Dublin South-West would make sense. As I said, a previous feasibility study ended the line in Knocklyon. It would make more sense for the line to go all the way to Tallaght whether has been a huge increase in population and new housing is being built all the time.

Sentiment score: 0.25