A legal challenge to the planned MetroLink in Dublin will be heard at the High Court on 18 March next year.
Declan McGrath, Senior Counsel for the National Roads Authority, operating at Transport Infrastructure Ireland, told Judge Richard Humphreys that the project was "an issue of the highest priority" and he was seeking the earliest date that the court had available.
The case, when it is heard, is expected to take 12 hours.
Ms Justice Emily Farrell will hear a separate leave application on Monday as to whether the case can go ahead, but the court heard that leave was not opposed by either An Coimisiún Pleanála or the other notice parties.
The case is being taken by 20 listed plaintiffs who are seeking a judicial review into the MetroLink, the 18.8km line running from Charlemont near Dublin city centre to Swords Estuary.
Many of the 20 listed are residents of Dartmouth Square off Leeson Street in Dublin.
Judge Humphreys at the High Court said he was not in a position to deal with the leave application today and that it would be dealt with by his colleague Judge Farrell once an affidavit explaining some amendments to the application had been uploaded.
The court also heard that a mediation hearing has been set for 22 December to see if any progress can be made between the parties.
After hearing that the applicants were willing to enter into mediation, Judge Humphreys said this was "good news", and he supported any alternative dispute resolution mechanism.
Last month, An Coimisiún Pleanála granted a Railway Order to allow construction to get under way, which had been due to begin in 2027.
If MetroLink goes ahead, it would be the largest infrastructure project in the State and without objections could be completed by the mid-2030s.
