A Cabinet Minister has defended the money spent on MetroLink in Dublin, but said a final cost won't be known until it goes to tender.
Higher Education Minister Simon Harris was responding to claims by Labour's Transport Spokesperson Duncan Smith that the funds spent to date are a 'national embarrassment.'
It is after it emerged €125 million has been spent already before a sod has been turned.
MetroLink consists of a new fully segregated railway, most of which will be underground, between the Swords and Charlemont areas of the capital.
The route for the Dublin MetroLinkThe route will also serve Dublin Airport - the first rail link to the country's largest airport - as well as major educational campuses.
The overall project is expected to cost €9.5 billion and is aimed for completion in 2035.
The National Transport Authority (NTA) has said the cost is similar to the design and planning for other major international projects.
Minister Harris told The Hard Shoulder he disagrees with Deputy Smith.
"No, he's not [right] - I suppose the reason he's not right is this is a project that I think we've been quite public about the likely range of this project in terms of cost," he said.
"There won't be a final cost until it goes to tender, but this is multi-billions of euro, €7 to €12 billion is the range I've seen talked about publicly.
"It is well-known by anybody in relation to capital projects that, generally, around 15% of the total budget is spent on design, tech costs and the like."
An artist's impression of the Tara Street MetroLink station. Image: metrolink.ieMinister Harris said we have to get the project right.
"There's a huge body of work to do; there's an oral hearing at An Bord Pleanála, we've go to get this right," he said.
"Ultimately, after decades of talking about metros, we need to get to a point that this project comes out the side of the planning process and into construction.
"It is a very expensive project, there's no getting away from that, but I wouldn't like anyone to suggest that money is any way has been wasted.
"The facts don't bear that up."
Put to him that more money will have to be spent before the MetroLink is built, Minister Harris replied: "That's not wasted; you want a Metro, you don't want a Metro - we have to go through the various processes - and we want a Metro."
Listen back here:
