The Transport Minister Shane Ross has said any MetroLink plan that would see major disruption to the Luas Green Line is "totally unacceptable".

He was responding to reports that the southside section of the metro rail line is set to be abandoned due to Government unwillingness for lengthy disruption to the Green Line.

Under the changes, the line would still run from Swords to the city centre - but is likely to stop north of Ranelagh at Charlemont.

Opposition to the plans centred on proposals to close Dunville Avenue and Beechwood Road to facilitate the metro.

The closure could see motorists face a 1.2km detour through Ranelagh village.

The MetroLink is a proposed 26km high-frequency metro from Swords to Sandyford.

The proposed MetroLink route | Image: metrolink.ie

The emerging route is to connect with key destinations including Dublin Airport and the city centre.

A large proportion of the route will be underground, including where it passes under the city centre area and the airport. The underground section will terminate close to the Charlemont Luas stop.

Under the plans, the Luas Green Line will be upgraded to metro standard.

But Minister Ross has said he will not accept major disruption.

"Reports today of possible changes to the Metrolink plan have caused alarm for many residents in the area along the Green Line Luas.

"While the NTA [National Transport Authority] are still in the consultation phase, I have warned my agencies that I will not accept a plan that results in disruption to the Green Line for four years.

"Such a move could prevent commuters and travellers from getting into the city and would worsen traffic for all.

"It would therefore be totally unacceptable."

But Green Party leader Eamon Ryan has appealed for the plan to be changed.

"We want the Government to alter not abandon the southside MetroLink.

"The integration of the metro with the Luas Green line does presents real difficulties in the closure of the line and the loss of pedestrian accessibility.

"Rather than the confusion from various press leaks from different ministers we need to see the real engineering details from the National Transport Authority (NTA).

"We have been calling for the NTA to think bigger about what might be possible.

"The biggest cost is using a tunnel boring machine is getting it in the ground.

"Once the tunnelling machine arrives in Charlemont Street it makes more sense to either continue either South West to Terenure, Rathfarnham and Tallaght or to the South East to UCD and Sandyford.

"The first option follows the original preferred route for the metro and is a corridor poorly served by public transport.

"Heading South East has the advantage of serving the large developments planned in UCD and Sandyford and cope with the increased traffic due to come from the southside into town."

A proposed MetroLink train | Image: metrolink.ie

While Labour TD for Fingal, Brendan Ryan, has called for the northside of the MetroLink to be fast-tracked.

He said: "Proceeding with the MetroLink project as planned is of utmost importance to my constituents and the entire city of Dublin.

"An affordable light rail link will not only reduce traffic from Swords to the city centre, but the rail will also allow residents to commute quickly, cheaply and sustainably.

"The construction of a northside line must be a priority.

"Given the decision to no longer proceed with the full southside development, the NTA can now redouble its efforts to deliver for the north county, which has never been served by light rail as our southside negihbours have, and which is a highly anticipated development."

Transport Infrastructure Ireland and the NTA launched a public consultation process on the Emerging Preferred Route in May 2018.

MetroLink will have a total of 25 stations, including 15 new stations, 3,000 additional Park and Ride spaces, and a journey time of approximately 50 minutes from Swords to Sandyford.

MetroLink was originally scheduled to operate from 2027.

It will have the capacity for 30 trains per hour in each direction, with 4,000 jobs set to be created during construction.