The junior minister at the Department of Transport Ivor Callely today reaffirmed his commitment to a metro service for north Dublin.
With officials at the Department of Transport finalising a radical 10-year transport plan Mr Callely said: "I want to see a metro link from the city centre to major demand centres on the northside, the airport and onwards to Swords."
"The successful launch of Luas has further added to our public transport infrastructure and our programme for government contains a commitment for development of phase one of a Dublin Metro."
The scheme was first mooted in 1998, and in 2002 the cost of a light rail network was estimated at €1.2 billion.
But it is understood the final decision on the airport metro will rest with the Cabinet committee on transport, chaired by the Taoiseach, when it assesses the 10-year plan in the coming weeks.
It is also understood Ministers will examine a possible dual-carriageway linking Galway and Limerick cities, and new Dart or rail links to Kildare and to Dunboyne, Co Meath. Proposals for a €1.3 billion underground rail link between Heuston Station and Spencer Dock may also be tabled.
Mr Callely told a transport conference hosted by the Irish Business and Employers' Confederation conference and the National Roads Authority that it was critical for the economy that the Government continued to invest wisely and heavily in infrastructure.
"Better roads are undoubtedly needed but they must be provided as part of an integrated approach to meeting transport needs," he said.