CEO of Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) Lorcan O’Connor said that MetroLink’s procurement and construction would “not at all” be delayed by Programme Director Seán Sweeney’s departure.
New Zealander Seán Sweeney said he was departing from the long-awaited flagship infrastructure project for family reasons.
However, Mr O’Connor said he was “confident” that this team “can make sure that we continue with the momentum that we have for the project”.
Speaking on RTÉ News at One, he said he did not think that a project this large “is ever dependent on one person” and “inevitably” different people will be in charge at different stages over its ten-plus year lifetime.
Mr O’Connor said some procurements had already begun and the rest would commence before Mr Sweeney leaves “towards the end of June”.
“We’re committed to meeting all of those deadlines,” he said, adding that “tangible evidence of progress” will be visible within the next year.
He said Deputy Project Director Michael Flynn would take charge in the interim while a replacement for Mr Sweeney is sought and that “Michael is well-placed both in terms of extensive experience on metros and working around the world to make sure that the progress that we have built up will continue”.
Mr O’Connor said that although a “global hiring search” begins again for a new Project Director, “one thing has changed”.
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A successor to Mr Sweeney will not need convincing that the project “is actually going to happen” as it is now funded and has planning permission…”and we can point to the fact that the project is in a good place at procurement with the next stage being construction”.
He said it would still be the case that there are just a small group of professionals around the world with the expertise to deliver Metrolink but “there are only a small number of metros being built around the world at any one time, so we are looking at a relatively limited pool”.
Mr O’Connor said he would be “hopeful” a new project director could be found “relatively quickly” and he was “sure” there would be a “number of interested candidates”.
He suggested a suitable replacement could currently be in the Middle East and as it is a conflict zone at the moment, a move to Dublin to take over Metrolink “is certainly something that should be attractive to people”.
The 18.8-km MetroLink rail line has been beset with delays, legal challenges and ballooning costs – with the Government estimating costs at around €11bn.
Mr Sweeney had estimated that major construction is expected to start at the end of 2027 and that it could be some time in the mid-2030s before people will be able to take the metro to the airport.
‘A programme like MetroLink will have many parents’
In a statement, Mr Sweeney said that the role had been “one of the greatest professional privileges of my career”.
“However, after several years away from home, the sacrifice of being separated from my partner, children, and grandchildren, who are over 10,000 miles away, has become unsustainable,” he added.
“It is with deep regret that I leave MetroLink, however, I know it is the right thing to do for everyone.
“A programme like MetroLink will have many parents and I always believed my role was to get the programme up and running.
“I am proud to leave the programme with a highly committed and experienced executive team, full government support as well an operational Railway Order and MetroLink fully funded into construction.
“MetroLink is no longer a ‘proposed’ plan; it is a live delivery project.
“The market appetite is huge, the political support is firm, and the team I leave behind is the best I have ever worked with.
“I want to thank Minister (Darragh) O’Brien, the TII Board, and the people of Dublin for their trust.
“I look forward to seeing the first tunnel boring machines start their work, knowing the foundation is rock solid.”
Mr O’Connor said: “It is with a mix of gratitude and regret that I confirm the departure this summer of Sean Sweeney as programme director of MetroLink.
“Sean joined us at a critical juncture when MetroLink was in need of a steady hand to build a strong team, generate market interest, secure planning and steer the programme into the procurement phase.
“During his time, the project has secured its most significant milestone to date: securing the Operational Railway Order in January 2026.
“Sean has assembled an executive team with over 250 years of collective experience in delivering global mega-projects.
“Under his watch MetroLink now has a completed reference design, a live procurement process, comprehensive political support and a level of international market confidence Ireland has never seen before.”
Minister for Transport Darragh O’Brien has said MetroLink will not be delayed as a result of Mr Sweeney stepping down from his role.
The minister said he met with Mr Sweeney earlier this week who informed him of his decision to return to New Zealand for family reasons.
He said Metrolink is fully funded and construction on the project will begin next year.
“We’ll be going out to tender pretty shortly,” he said.
“I wish him all the best in the next phase in his life but there is no fear of any delay in the project.”
Mr O’Brien added that the MetroLink project team has his full support, as well as the support of his department and the Government.
Earlier this year, Mr Sweeney said that the purchasing of homes in Dartmouth Square in south Dublin for €30 million as part of a deal with residents to withdraw their judicial review of the project was a “no brainer”.
Additional reporting: Petula Martyn
