Despite widespread gloom over the recession there is good news on construction in the Irish Republic.

Iarnród Éireann is going ahead with plans to build a 13,000 square-metre, 60 metre-high office development at Tara Street station - an overall scheme costing well over €100m.

Commenting on an associated bid to find a development partner, a company spokesman said: "The office development element of the project means that, as well as delivering a landmark building to the city, the new station facility will be developed at no cost to the taxpayer or our customers."

Major increases in customer numbers have seen throughput in Tara Street grow to 10 million passengers a year, and further growth is expected as Transport 21 projects - including the underground DART tunnel - come on stream.

The latest phase of the Tara Street plan (with a visualisation pictured here) is now being updated to take account of the continued growth in passenger numbers, after Iarnrod Eireann was previously granted permission for the 60.8-metre, 14-storey office tower above the station.

-- Advertisement --

The new planning permission sought includes approval for a new 12-metre-high, €20m station concourse with 13,000 square metres of office accommodation above.

The main focus of the new design will be to provide an improved concourse area that will cater for up to 14,500 passengers per hour at peak times.

In addition, it is hoped that the revised design will provide for a similar area of office accommodation above in a landmark tower feature.

The station will be kept open during construction as the project, to minimise disruption. Construction is expected to begin next year with completion in 2012

Meanwhile, Iarnród Éireann - as part of the Transport 21 overall infrastructure plan - has announced a series of proposed revisions to the DART Underground line, ahead of an application for a Railway Order later this year.

The most significant change will see the DART Underground tunnel, a second high-capacity DART line through the heart of the city centre, extended to Inchicore.

Other good news just revealed is that works will get underway at 967 schools across the country this summer as part of an €80m Government scheme announced early in May by the Minister for Education Batt O'Keeffe.

The Summer Works Scheme covers school projects such as gas, electrical and mechanical works, roof replacements and repairs, window replacement, toilet upgrades, structural improvements and access works.

Announcing the fund, Minister O'Keeffe said the €80m investment will create much-needed jobs in the construction sector.

(BMcC/JM)