DUBLIN, November 26, 2025 – Residents of a historic Dublin square are poised to accept a buyout from Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), effectively ending a legal battle that threatened to delay the city’s ambitious MetroLink rail project. The surprising turn of events could unlock the largest infrastructure project in Irish history,a line slated to run from Swords to Charlemont.
MetroLink Momentum: Residents Reach Deal, Averting Years of Delay
A last-minute agreement between homeowners and transport authorities clears the path for Dublin’s new rail line.
- The legal challenge, initiated by residents of Dartmouth Square West, centered on planning permission for the 18.8km MetroLink.
- TII will purchase the homes of 12 residents,paving the way for construction of the Charlemont terminus.
- Transport Minister Darragh O’Brien hailed the agreement as a “significant step forward” for the project.
- Contract notices for the main civil works are now expected in the first quarter of 2026.
The homes on Dartmouth Square West are directly adjacent to the proposed Charlemont terminus,making their acquisition crucial for the project’s completion.
Earlier this month, Kalamunda Co Unlimited, owned by Sharon McCabe of Dartmouth square West, withdrew from the proceedings. Kalamunda is the holding company for McCabes Pharmacy, which was acquired by PHX Ireland, the owner of Lloyds pharmacy, two years ago. At a court hearing following that withdrawal, residents were given a provisional date of next March for the judicial review. However, lawyers for the residents signaled a willingness to enter mediation after TII proposed talks before the end of the year.
Following discussions this week, residents are now expected to accept offers from TII to purchase their Victorian-era homes, bringing their legal challenge to an end. the houses on dartmouth Square are protected structures and rarely come up for sale; one recently sold for €2.7 million. The exact amount TII has offered for the properties, and whether the offer extends to all homes on Dartmouth Square West, remains undisclosed.
TII declined to comment on the specifics of the commercial agreements. However, TII chief executive Lorcan O’Connor expressed his appreciation for the residents’ “constructive approach,” stating, “This is another significant step forward for Ireland’s largest infrastructure project.”
MetroLink program director Seán Sweeney emphasized the clarity the resolution provides for the market. “with this matter resolved,our focus now is on progressing enabling works and advancing procurement,with contract notices for the main civil works packages to be issued in Q1 2026.” TII is currently in discussions with several international consortiums interested in undertaking the massive project.
The MetroLink project is expected to require a workforce of approximately 8,000 and will take at least eight years to complete. TII anticipates that rail services could be operational by the mid-2030s.
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