Mr Sweeney cites distance from his New Zealand home as reason for departureHe took over the ‘once in a generational project’ in 2024An international recruitment campaign will be launched to find a replacement
In a fresh blow to the long-awaited transport system, the New Zelander said after two years in Ireland his personal situation has become “unsustainable”.
He took up the €550,000-a-year position in 2024, promising to deliver the “once-in-a-generation project that will transform the public transport system” in Dublin.
Today he said working on Metrolink has 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. It is with deep regret that I leave MetroLink, however, I know it is the right thing to do for everyone.”
He said Metrolink will have “many parents” and his role was “to get the programme up and running”.
In a statement Lorcan O’Connor, CEO Transport Infrastructure Ireland, said: “It is with a mix of gratitude and regret that I confirm the departure this summer of Seán Sweeney as Programme Director of MetroLink.”
Metrolink has been talked about for decades but has made significant progress in recent years. The 19km rail line will stretch from Swords to Charlemont, including stops at Dublin Airport and O’Connell Street.
The final cost is expected to be upwards of €10bn and it is due to be operational in the mid- 2030s.
An artist’s impression of the metro entrance at Tara Street
Before moving to Dublin, Mr Sweeney (66) worked for over three decades in leadership roles on major infrastructure projects in Australia, New Zealand and the US.
He was previously the Chief Executive Officer of City Rail Link, an underground rail link in Auckland’s city centre, and New Zealand’s largest-ever transport infrastructure project.
There was surprise at the scale of the salary offered for the Metrolink position but he routinely defended it, telling the Sunday Independent last year: “These are really big jobs. You pay for what you get. I was dragged from halfway around the world and it was an international search.
“My team and I are going to manage north of €10bn worth of risk for the people in Ireland and we’re not going to fix it all, but if you have people who don’t know what they are doing, then they’re going to make bad decisions.”
Sean Sweeney
MetroLink boss on his battle to bring the multi-billion euro project back from the brink
Mr Sweeney described MetroLink as “the biggest bet Ireland has ever taken on construction”.
In December, the project overcame a major blockage when residents Ranlagh’s Darmouth Square agreed to sell their houses rather than proceed with a judicial review.
Mr Sweeney said buying up the houses at a likely cost of more than €30m was a “no brainer” when the alternative was to lose a year or two in legal battles.
In a statement confirming his decision to step away, he said he was proud to leave “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 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,” he said.
The proposed MetroLink route
It is understood Mr Sweeney will continue in his position until the summer. In the meantime an international recruitment campaign will be launched.
After he leaves, Michael Flynn (Deputy Programme Director) will take over the interim project manager.
There are three major milestones to be hit before the end of this year:
Issuing Contract Notices for the M500: Service Delivery Package (Comprising design and delivery of rail systems, rolling stock, commissioning, depot, park and ride facilities. This contract also covers the fit out of all stations and maintenance of the public passenger transport service)Issuing Invitations to Tender for the M400 package (the two M400 contracts will provide the civil engineering and infrastructure works for the MetroLink Programme, with each contract including the track preparation, stations and structures including bridges and tunnels), andThe commencement of advanced and enabling works for the programme (21 separate contracts designed to clear a path for the main infrastructure works).
TII’s Mr O’Connor said: “Seán 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.
“While we are sad to see him leave we wish him well with the next chapter of his life. We will begin an open competition for his successor immediately.”
Transport Minister Darragh O’Brien said he is sorry to see Mr Sweeney go as he had “made a great contribution to the progress of Metrolink”.
“One of Seán’s key achievements was to establish a highly experienced, highly skilled and high-performing senior leadership team. It is this team who will continue to keep Metrolink on course for its scheduled milestones.”
The minister said the “truly transformative project” is “rapidly taking shape” and has an initial €2bn in government funding.
“The Metrolink project team have my full support, that of my Department, and of the Government,” he said.