Railway Order process

Further information on the Railway Order application process.

The proposed railway works covered by the proposed Railway Order are subject to an environmental impact assessment procedure pursuant to the Transport (Railway Infrastructure) Act 2001 (as amended and substituted) (the "Act") and a Natura Impact Statement has also been submitted.

Written Submissions

An Bord Pleanála is the competent authority responsible for making the decision whether or not to grant the order, from which relevant information can be obtained and to which comments or questions can be submitted.

An Bord Pleanála will consider any submissions by any persons, made in writing from 7th October 2022 to 5.30pm on 25th November 2022 and accompanied by a fee of €50 in relation to the draft Railway Order, or in relation to the likely effects on the environment and the likely significant effects in the area concerned with European Sites if any, of the proposed railway works. This fee is not payable by certain prescribed bodies or by persons whose lands may be acquired under the draft Railway Order.

Submissions must be lodged no later than 5.30pm on 25th November 2022 and must be addressed to An Bord Pleanála, 64 Marlborough Street, Dublin 1, D01 V902 and marked “Railway (Metrolink–Estuary to Charlemont via Dublin Airport) Order 2022”. Submissions can also be made on the An Bord Pleanála website at the following address: https://www.pleanala.ie/en-ie/observations

The supporting documentation accompanying the Railway Order application includes the following:
  1. A draft of the proposed Railway Order, entitled “Railway (MetroLink–Estuary to Charlemont via Dublin Airport) Order [2022]”
  2. A plan of the proposed railway works and the land requirements for the railway works;
  3. A book of reference to the plan, indicating the identity of the owners and occupiers of the lands described in the plan;
  4. An Environmental Impact Assessment Report (EIAR), providing a systematic analysis and assessment of the significant effects of a proposed project on the receiving environment;
  5. A Natura Impact Statement.

Inspection of the draft Railway Order and accompanying documentation

A copy of the draft Railway Order and the documentation accompanying the application may be inspected free of charge during normal office or opening hours from 7th October 2022 until the 25th November 2022 at:

  1. An Bord Pleanála offices at 64 Marlborough Street, Dublin 1, D01 V902;
  2. Dublin City Council offices at Civic Offices, Wood Quay, Dublin 8, D08 RF3F;
  3. Fingal County Council offices at County Hall, Main Street, Swords, County Dublin, K67 X8Y2;
  4. Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) offices at Parkgate Business Centre, Parkgate Street, Dublin 8, D08 DK10;
  5. National Transport Authority (NTA) offices at Dún Scéine, Harcourt Lane, Dublin 2, D02 WT20 (9.15am – 4pm Monday to Friday)

The draft Railway Order and the documentation accompanying the application is available at: https://www.metrolinkro.ie.

 

Purchase of Documentation

Copies or extracts from the documentation accompanying the application for the Railway Order may be purchased on payment of a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making such copy or extract from:

Such purchase requests may be sent to Transport Infrastructure Ireland, Parkgate Business Centre, Parkgate Street, Dublin 8, D08 DK10 or info@metrolink.ie or by calling 1800 333 777.

The cost schedule and payment option for the purchase of documentation is provided here.

Oral Hearing

An Bord Pleanála may, at its absolute discretion, hold an oral hearing into the application for a Railway Order, under section 42 of the Act.

Judicial Review

A person may question the validity of the decision of An Bord Pleanála by way of an application for judicial review in accordance with section 47 and 47A of the Transport (Railway Infrastructure) Act 2001 (as amended and substituted) and under Order 84 of the Rules of the Superior Courts, 1986 (as amended) (S.I. No. 15 of 1986 as amended) and practical information on the review mechanism can be accessed under the heading ‘Legal Notices’ – ‘Judicial Review Notice’ on the Board’s website www.pleanala.ie or on the Citizen’s Information website www.citizensinformation.ie.