MetroLink – Preliminary Business Case

The MetroLink Preliminary Business Case was approved

To ensure that public investment delivers value for money, the Public Spending Code sets out requirements for the evaluation, planning and management of public investment. The preparation of a Business Case is a key element of meeting these requirements. The Public Spending Codes requires that both the Preliminary Business Case and Final Business Case for public investment projects are published.

Under the Public Spending Code for Public Transport Capital Projects the NTA are Approving Authority. Where project proposals are in excess of an estimated capital cost of €100 million, the Government is the Approving Authority for key decision gates with NTA performing the day-to-day role of the Approving Authority. 

The MetroLink Preliminary Business Case prepared by Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) was approved by the NTA Board for submission to the Department of Transport (DoT) and onwards submission to Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (DPER) for review. Further to DoT and DPER review (including independent review by JASPERS and the Major Projects Advisory Group (MPAG)) elements of the PBC around timeline, costs and benefits were updated to inform the Government decision.

In July 2022, the Government granted Approval in Principle to the NTA to enable the submission of a railway order application by TII to An Bord Pleanála in respect of the MetroLink project (Decision Gate 1).

This Preliminary Business Case reflects the document as considered by Government with a Cover Note which sets out any significant revisions to timeline, costs and benefits arising from the consideration of the PBC from Government.

Preliminary Business Case Documentation

Please see the MetroLink Preliminary Business Case Documentation below: