Sir, – I am really concerned with Wednesday’s reporting on the commencement of bidding for MetroLink construction contracts, with headline values of €7.9 billion (“MetroLink: Bidding process for construction contracts worth €7.9bn begins,” February 4th).
These figures relate only to the main civil engineering works. They exclude land acquisition, financing costs, design changes, risk contingencies and, based on Irish experience, likely overruns. Assurances that final costs will be “considerably less” than contract notice values should therefore be treated with caution.
The case for a €20 billion underground metro to Dublin Airport also remains unconvincing. Existing airport access functions well and continues to improve. Michael O’Leary has been forthright in questioning the project, and his views merit consideration.
As head of Europe’s largest airline, Ryanair, with extensive experience of Dublin Airport operations at scale, his assessment that such a project is unnecessary deserves serious engagement rather than dismissal.
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Crucially, this is not a debate between MetroLink and inaction. Lower-cost, faster alternatives exist. Expanded BusConnects corridors, high-capacity bus rapid transit, Luas extensions and orbital routes, and capacity increases through the Dart programme could deliver meaningful improvements without committing the State to decades of financial and construction risk.
With so much uncertainty around future Government finances, we must call a halt now and reassess. – Yours, etc,
PETER MALBASHA,
Booterstown,
Co Dublin.
Sir, – In view of the colossal costs that new ticketing systems will entail for all Dublin transport methods, would it be cheaper and more sensible to make all public transport in the greater urban areas free at the point of use? Household charges or some other revenue source would fund transport for all and drastically reduce private car use. – Yours, etc,
JOHN ROGERS,
Rathowen,
Co Westmeath.
