Ireland's first metro
The ambitious plan to build Ireland’s first underground rail system will see trains running every three minutes at peak times, linking Swords to Dublin Airport and the city centre.
The planning application for the MetroLink project will be made in September, with a target of having the transport infrastructure completed and open for use by the early 2030s.
Early cost estimates for the plan are in the region of €9.5 billion, with an extreme case of €23 billion.
However, Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan said an “abundance of caution” has been applied to the project costs, adding he is confident the project could be completed at the lower cost level of €7.1 billion.
Woman jailed for manslaughter of baby
A mother has been sentenced to three months in prison for the manslaughter of her newborn baby.
Waterford Circuit Court Judge Eugene O’Kelly said the baby, found dead in a Caredoc bin, was neglected and left to die by the one and only person who knew of her birth, her mother. Judge O’Kelly said baby Sophie, who was born healthy, was denied the chance of a long and happy life.
He made the comments during the sentencing hearing of the baby’s mother, Caitlin Corcoran (23), formerly of Mount Suir, Gracedieu, Waterford city, and now with an address at Castleblaney, Mullinavat, Co Kilkenny.
Back-to-school costs
Families preparing for their children to return to school in the autumn need help now with back-to-school costs, the Dáil has heard.
Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald said “families preparing now to get children back to school in late August need help and assistance now”.
Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise Leo Varadkar said he was in agreement that back to school and back to college was “really expensive” for families.
He said Minister for Public Expenditure Michael McGrath, Minister for Social Protection Heather Humphries and Minister for Education Norma Foley were in discussions “to enhance the back-to-school package”.
Taoiseach travels to Ukraine
Taoiseach Micheál Martin will visit Ukraine on Wednesday on the invite of President Volodomyr Zelenskiy.
Mr Martin was absent from Leaders' Questions in the Dáil today and has been travelling to eastern Europe ahead of the official visit, with details of the trip kept quiet for security reasons.
He is currently in Poland and it is expected he will travel onto the Ukrainian capital Kyiv over land.
