MetroLink Spending More Than €2 Million Per Home Buying Dartmouth Square Houses in Ranelagh
Transport Infrastructure Ireland is spending more than €2 million per property acquiring homes on Dartmouth Square West in Ranelagh to facilitate the construction of the MetroLink Charlemont station, with the total cost of purchasing between 10 and 15 houses projected to reach between €30 million and €34 million — a figure that has reignited debate about the spiralling costs of Ireland's flagship public transport project.
Background
MetroLink is Ireland's most ambitious public transport project in a generation, a planned 18.8-kilometre underground rail line connecting Swords in north County Dublin to Charlemont in the south of the city, with 16 stations along the route. The project, which has been in planning for more than two decades in various forms, received planning approval in 2024 and is now in the early stages of construction preparation.
The Charlemont station, which will serve the south Dublin suburbs of Ranelagh, Rathmines, and Rathgar, requires the acquisition of a number of properties on Dartmouth Square West, a terrace of Victorian townhouses that are among the most desirable residential addresses in the city. The acquisition process has been the subject of a legal challenge by local residents, which was resolved in December 2025 through an agreement between TII and the homeowners.
Under the terms of that agreement, affected homeowners have a two-year window to exercise their option to sell their properties to TII at independently assessed market values. The properties are not slated for demolition; TII has indicated that they may be used for project accommodation or administration during the construction phase and are intended to be resold on the open market at a later date.
Key Developments
By June 2026, TII had finalised the purchase of four homes on Dartmouth Square West for a combined total of €9.1 million. The individual prices ranged from €2.0 million to €2.6 million, reflecting the premium values that properties in this part of Ranelagh command. Based on these initial acquisitions, the total cost of purchasing all 10 to 15 targeted homes is projected to reach between €30 million and €34 million.
TII leadership has characterised the purchases as a sound investment from a business perspective, noting that the State is acquiring significant real estate assets that are expected to retain or increase in value once the Charlemont station is completed. Former programme director Seán Sweeney described the decision as a "no-brainer," arguing that the alternative — a prolonged legal battle that could have delayed the project by one to two years — would have been far more costly.
Similar acquisition discussions have been initiated for other locations impacted by the MetroLink route, including the Dalcassian Downs apartment complex in Glasnevin, where approximately 50 homes may be subject to a similar voluntary purchase scheme.
Why It Matters
The Dartmouth Square acquisitions are a microcosm of the broader challenge facing MetroLink: the project is being built through one of the most densely populated and expensive urban environments in Europe, and the cost of acquiring the land and properties required for its construction is enormous. The projected €30 million to €34 million cost of purchasing 10 to 15 houses on a single street is a striking illustration of the financial scale of the undertaking.
Critics of the project have pointed to the Dartmouth Square costs as evidence that MetroLink's overall budget — currently estimated at approximately €9 billion — is likely to increase significantly before the line opens. The National Children's Hospital, which saw its budget escalate from €650 million to more than €2 billion, is frequently cited as a cautionary tale, and there is growing political pressure on TII and the Department of Transport to provide more detailed and transparent cost projections.
Local Impact
For the residents of Dartmouth Square West who have chosen to sell their properties to TII, the process has been managed through an independent valuation mechanism that the council described as fair and transparent. For those who have not yet exercised their option to sell, the two-year window remains open. The wider Ranelagh community has mixed feelings about the MetroLink project: while the prospect of a new underground station on their doorstep is broadly welcomed, the disruption of construction — which is expected to last for several years — is a source of significant concern for local businesses and residents.
What's Next
TII will continue the process of acquiring the remaining properties on Dartmouth Square West over the coming months. The Dalcassian Downs acquisition discussions are expected to progress in parallel. The overall MetroLink project is currently in the detailed design and procurement phase, with construction expected to begin in earnest in 2027. The Oireachtas Transport Committee is expected to hold hearings on the project's costs and timeline in the autumn session.
