An Bord Pleanala have missed a deadline for decision on the Metrolink project.
The planning authority had an initial deadline for decision of December 21st but this has passed with no clear indication of a new timeline.
An oral hearing on the application has been suggested since the summer but a date for that hearing has not yet been set. Following the oral hearing a planning inspector will compile a report on the project and submit it to the board for decision.
It has been suggested that the oral hearing could be late Q1 2024 and based on the time taken in other projects the inspectors report will likely a further 3 months before it is even referred to the board. The board can take a further two months so an optimistic timeline for decision will put see it happening in Q3 2024.
Cllr Ian Carey said:
“It’s bad news to see a mega project like the Metrolink currently untethered from a clear timeline thorugh the planning process.
“People in North Dublin have already been waiting decades for this essentail infrastructure. Roads, buildings, homes and lives have all been built around the delivery of this rail line.
“We need APB to work with a high degree of priority and transparency on this project. I’m calling ABP to publish a clear timeline for decision on Metrolink, one that meets the project timeline and if that is challenging they need to meet that challenge with new resources.
“It’s not acceptable to cause any knock-on delays.
“Plans to move forwards quickly to build need to be made in parallel. Whatever comes out of the planning process the vast majority of this plan will go ahead as it and there is no point waiting around. This project will get permission and it needs to keep moving forward.”