New Zealander Sean Sweeney to be paid €550,000 a year to lead Dublin’s MetroLink project

Dr Sean Sweeney resigned from his post at New Zealand’s largest transport project and is due to leave his position in September to take on the new role.

Dr Sweeney is described as “an expert in the procurement and delivery of large capital works and tunnelling”.

A statement from the Department of Transport said: “More recently, he was the Chief Executive Officer of City Rail Link, a transformative underground rail link in Auckland’s city centre and New Zealand’s largest-ever transport infrastructure project.

“Other notable positions held by Mr Sweeney include Executive Director for Major Projects Victoria in Australia, where he managed a multibillion-dollar portfolio of projects and Public Private Partnerships (PPPs), and chaired the Victorian Government Project Management Leadership Forum.”

It confirmed the salary but said This is below the mean equivalent rate for this level of expertise globally.”

“Given the specific expertise and experience required for this transformational project, the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform sanctioned a base salary of €550,000 for the role.”

MetroLink’s construction costs are around four times greater than City Rail Link’s (CRL) and it will take six times as long to build it.

Dr Sweeney’s father is from Co Mayo, while his mother was born in Liverpool and is of Irish descent.

“There’s a strong personal element involved and the chance for an Irish/Kiwi like me to reconnect with family in Ireland,” he said.

Dr Sweeney studied engineering at Wellington Polytechnic and Auckland University and later gained a Doctorate in Construction Economics from Melbourne University. He worked in the infrastructure industry overseas before returning to New Zealand in 2018 to lead City Rail Link Ltd.

MetroLink will be 19km long – mostly underground – and will be built between central Dublin and the city’s airport while connecting with existing road and rail public transport to include 16 new stations.

“I have been more than honoured to lead CRL and with our finish line approaching rapidly it was no easy decision to leave a project that will always remain special to me,” said Dr Sweeney.

“It will not only do so much for Auckland and Aucklanders, but CRL demonstrates the very best in outstanding teamwork, innovation and design – every one of us who has worked on CRL can rightly feel proud and privileged to have done so.”

MetroLink earlier confirmed to the Irish Independent that Dr Sean Sweeney has been appointed the Programme Director of the rail project.

“The appointment follows an extensive national and international recruitment competition, carried out on behalf of Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) by Newsom Consulting,” a MetroLink spokesperson said.

“As MetroLink Programme Director, Sean will be responsible for leading the development and delivery of this programme, which aims to provide a new high-frequency, environmentally friendly public transport service for Dublin.”

Today’s News in 90 Seconds – Tuesday June 25

Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan said the recruitment of Dr Sweeney is “another important step” to ensuring MetroLink will be delivered.

“Recruiting a world-recognised Project Director with a track record of getting massive infrastructural projects over the line is another important step in ensuring that this time MetroLink will be delivered. We now have one of the best people in the world on our team to get the job done.

“This transformational project is currently before planning. Once we get through the planning process, I am keen for us to go full tilt to get construction under way so that we meet our milestones and deliver a world-class metro system as quickly as possible.

“This important recruitment is not just about getting this project over the line in the next decade, it’s about ensuring that we have a transport system that is fit for purpose for decades to come.”

City Rail Link Ltd’s chairman, John Bridgman, said Dr Sweeney’s resignation is accepted with regret.

“I congratulate Sean on his new appointment – it is a great opportunity on the world stage for a New Zealander with his outstanding engineering and leadership skills,” said Mr Bridgman.

“Be assured, however, that his resignation will not trigger any slowdown in the project’s momentum. One of Sean’s legacies is the strong leadership team he has established.

“Construction is more than 80pc complete, there is a good atmosphere across all our sites and CRL’s testing and commissioning phase is gathering pace. The project is in great shape and we remain on track to complete the project and hand it over to Auckland Transport and KiwiRail at the end of next year.”

Auckland’s City Rail Link have been contacted for comment.