A Once-in-a-Generation Opportunity to Transform Dublin Bay Infrastructure: An Integrated Vision for Coastal Protection, Clean Water, Energy Security and Active Travel

2 Sept

Dublin Bay is one of our greatest natural assets. It is central to the identity of communities from Dún Laoghaire to Sandymount, supports critical national infrastructure, and provides an important environmental and recreational amenity for residents and visitors alike.

Today, several major infrastructure projects are being developed independently along Dublin Bay. While each project addresses an important challenge, there is a unique opportunity to take a more ambitious approach: delivering them together through a single, coordinated initiative that could accelerate delivery, reduce costs, improve public support, and create a lasting legacy for future generations.

I have written to the Minister for Transport and Iarnród Éireann to highlight how this opportunity aligns with the Government's Accelerating Infrastructure programme and how Dublin Bay could become a flagship example of joined-up infrastructure delivery.

The Challenge Facing Dublin Bay

Several significant projects are currently being planned or developed along the south side of Dublin Bay, including:

Iarnród Éireann's East Coast Railway Infrastructure Protection Project (ECRIPP) to protect the DART line from coastal erosion and wave overtopping.
EirGrid's Powering Up Dublin project, including a major high-voltage connection between Carrickmines and Poolbeg.
The urgent need to improve wastewater infrastructure to reduce the risk of sewage overflows into Dublin Bay.
Longstanding plans for the Sutton to Sandycove (S2S) Greenway, providing a continuous coastal walking and cycling route around the Bay.

Each of these projects is important. However, progressing them separately risks increased costs, construction delays, planning challenges, and public frustration.

A Better Solution: One Project, Multiple Benefits

Rather than developing these initiatives in isolation, there is an opportunity to combine them into a single integrated coastal infrastructure project.

At the heart of this proposal is the completion of the Sutton to Sandycove Greenway along the south Dublin coastline, while simultaneously incorporating:

Coastal protection for the railway line.
Underground utility corridors for electricity infrastructure.
Space for future wastewater and drainage infrastructure.
Improved emergency and maintenance access.
Enhanced public amenities and environmental protection.

This would create a modern coastal promenade that delivers benefits for transport, energy, water services, climate resilience, biodiversity, tourism and recreation.

Protecting the DART Without Blocking Dublin Bay

There is broad agreement that the Dublin coastal rail line must be protected from increasingly severe weather events.

However, concerns have been expressed regarding proposals for large sea walls along sections of the coast between Merrion and Dún Laoghaire.

Many local residents value the unique views across Dublin Bay that have long been part of the character of the DART journey. There are also questions about whether a wall-only solution is the most effective engineering approach to reducing wave overtopping.

An integrated promenade incorporating robust rock-armour coastal protection could help absorb and dissipate wave energy before it reaches the railway, potentially delivering stronger protection while preserving access to views and amenities along the coastline.

Supporting Dublin's Future Energy Needs

Dublin requires major investment in electricity infrastructure to support homes, businesses, hospitals and economic growth.

The proposed EirGrid connection between Carrickmines and Poolbeg is a critical strategic project. Incorporating cable infrastructure within a co-ordinated coastal corridor could offer significant advantages, including:

A shorter route.
Reduced construction complexity.
Easier ongoing maintenance.
Future-proofed utility access.
Avoidance of crossing environmentally sensitive marine areas.

Creating shared infrastructure corridors is a proven way to improve efficiency and reduce the disruption associated with separate projects.

Improving Water Quality Across Dublin Bay

Protecting bathing water quality remains a major priority for communities along the coast.

The proposal would also create opportunities to include future wastewater and drainage infrastructure, supporting increased capacity and reducing pressure on existing networks.

This is particularly important given the need to minimise pollution incidents and protect the environmental quality of Dublin Bay for swimmers, residents, wildlife and visitors.

Completing the Sutton to Sandycove Greenway

The vision of a continuous Sutton to Sandycove coastal route has existed for decades and has featured in successive development plans.

Yet significant sections remain incomplete.

Delivering the Greenway as part of a wider strategic infrastructure project would bring enormous benefits:

Safe cycling and walking routes.
Improved tourism opportunities.
Better community connectivity.
Enhanced public health and wellbeing.
Increased support for active travel.

It would also create a remarkable public amenity connecting communities around one of Europe's most beautiful urban bays.

A Flagship Project for Accelerating Infrastructure

The Government's Accelerating Infrastructure programme aims to improve coordination, reduce delays and deliver essential projects faster.

Few proposals illustrate that ambition more clearly than a single Dublin Bay initiative that combines:

✅ Railway protection

✅ Energy infrastructure

✅ Wastewater improvements

✅ Climate resilience

✅ Active travel infrastructure

✅ Environmental protection

✅ Public amenities

By bringing multiple agencies together around a shared objective, we can deliver better outcomes at lower overall cost while creating a project that communities can actively support.

Looking Ahead

Dublin Bay deserves infrastructure that is innovative, resilient and designed for the future.

By taking a coordinated approach, we have an opportunity not only to protect critical national infrastructure but also to enhance our environment, improve public amenities and create a lasting legacy for generations to come.

This is exactly the type of ambitious, practical and collaborative thinking that should define infrastructure delivery in Ireland.

I am committed to advocating for infrastructure solutions that protect our coastline, improve public services and deliver lasting benefits for local communities.

Jennifer Carroll