Madam, - Metro North is much, much more than a rapid transport system to transfer passengers between Dublin Airport and Dublin city (Brian Dermody, October 30th). It is an essential infrastructure project that will connect the 43,000 population of Swords, with its young, well-educated workforce of 28,000, to workplaces at Dublin airport, Dublin city and places in between. It will connect the population along the corridor to hospitals, universities and employment centres, in the city, at Santry, Dublin Airport and Swords.
The population along the Metro North corridor is conservatively projected to rise to 120,000 by 2025. The airport is planning for a throughput of 40 million passengers a year by 2030. The economic potential of the corridor can create an additional 37,000 high-technology, service and manufacturing jobs over this period.
To delay, defer, or cancel this project would jeopardise the sustainable development of north Dublin and Dublin airport and the future prosperity of the whole Dublin region. For Ireland to emerge from the current crisis the Government needs to show courage and foresight and deliver essential projects that are capable of harnessing employment and economic growth. Metro North is one such project. - Yours, etc,