Fine Gael Senator says it’s “not acceptable” Metro North could be delayed until 2034

"There's absolutely no reason that would be acceptable for this project."

A Fine Gael Senator has said it is "not acceptable" that the completion of the Metro North project could be now delayed until 2034. The plan was first announced in the 'Transport 2021' plan back in 2005, however, the Metro North and DART + projects have since faced delays of a number of years with commencement now not set to begin until 2027. Senator Regina Doherty told Newstalk on Monday that there is "absolutely no reason" the delays would be acceptable. "It's 30 years ago, there are people who are living in Swords, all along the tracks right up to Dublin North in Balbriggan, who bought their houses or apartments with Metro North as part of their sales brochure," she said. "And here we are now, finding from a leak yesterday in the Mail on Sunday, that this project is not going to be delivered until 2034. And it's not acceptable". She added that she has emailed Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan in the hopes of getting "clarity" on the issue. "Not only am I looking for a public statement, I am looking for a meeting with all of the Oireachtas members on behalf of the citizens who this is going to affect to make sure that we can ensure that it either stays on track - or if there are issues, that we tease through those issues to get it back on track," she continued. "There's absolutely no reason that would be acceptable for this project - which is going to be seismic in the changes that it will make - not just for public transport, for the response to climate change which is immediate and needed now to the people of Dublin North."