Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) is increasing the value of the Property Owners Protection Scheme (POPS) for the MetroLink project from €45,000 to €75,000.
The scheme has been put in place to compensate residential property owners whose homes may be damaged due to construction of the MetroLink.
During the first module of the An Bord Pleanála oral hearings into the rail link, homeowners have repeatedly criticised the amount offered, capped at €45,000, as being too low.
''At the end of this module it became clear that a number of residents had concerns relating to the scope of the POPS scheme. '' TII Project Manager Aidan Foley said.
''TII has listened to these concerns and responded with a significant update to the scheme which will provide reassurances to people along the route,'' Mr Foley told An Bord Pleanála inspectors.
TII said the sum of €75,000 will be subject to adjustment, in line with the Consumer Price Index, from the date of the grant of the Railway Order.
In cases where property damage is confirmed to have been caused by MetroLink works, and is in excess of €75,000, the affected property can pursue MetroLink project insurances.
In that case, TII will make available its framework of contractors to expedite the works as soon as is practical.
TII said that the body does not anticipate claims being made that reach the threshold of €75,000.
TII has also announced that it will establish an independent Dispute Resolution Process, which will be set up in advance of the start of construction.
If there is a dispute regarding the impact of construction works on a property, an independent expert will act as an expert adjudicator.
That person will have the powers to issue a final determination in respect of any dispute.
The expert will be entirely independent of TII and their determination will be final and binding on TII.
However, the homeowner will be entitled to choose whether to accept the final determination.
If the homeowner chooses not to accept the final determination, the homeowner may pursue all legal remedies outside of POPS.
Mr Foley said: ''The homeowner’s participation in POPS does not in any way impact or undermine their existing legal rights. That remains unchanged.
"The purpose of our update here was just to make it very clear that the expert adjudicator will be independent of TII, and any determination will only bind TII and not the homeowner, if they’re not happy about it.''
Homeowners along the 18.8km route from Estuary in north Dublin to the terminus in Charlemont, Dublin 6, need to sign up to POPS at least six months before construction of any local works commencing.
TII will issue a letter drop to homeowners in close proximity to the alignment of the rail line.
The POPS scheme will remain in place for 12 months after the opening of the MetroLink line to passengers.
If TII avails of the Limits of Deviation at any stage during the project, depart from the lines of the plans and drawings lodged as part of the Railway Order application, it said the body will notify any properties which may be affected by this change and invite them to sign up to POPS.
The first module of the oral hearings into MetroLink has now concluded.
The second module of An Bord Pleanála's oral hearings begins tomorrow.
It will focus on traffic management plans, land and property acquistion along the route.
