Overview
- Around ten houses in Ranelagh will be purchased under the mediation that led to the withdrawal, the minister said.
- An Coimisiún Pleanála’s October approval and railway order remain in force, allowing compulsory land acquisition for the project.
- The line is described as a 18.8km mostly underground route from north of Swords to Charlemont with earlier documents citing an estimate of about €11 billion.
- The minister said three consortia have publicly signalled plans to bid, with enabling works and construction targeted to begin in 2027 subject to procurement.
- He rejected a €23 billion figure as too high and said an updated cost projection will be provided early in the new year.