Christopher O'Sullivan (Cork South-West, Fianna Fail)

I thank Deputy Ellis for raising this issue. The extension of the Luas line to Finglas is something everyone can get behind. It is great to hear it has support right across the board. In fairness, the decision was made in October 2025, when the sanction was given for the project. It is a bit early to say that we are delaying anything. I genuinely feel that there is an urgency about delivering this.

Improving public transport services and infrastructure is central to improving citizens' quality of life and achieving our decarbonisation goals. Achieving these goals has been set out in the programme for Government. The National Transport Authority, NTA, has statutory responsibility for transport planning in the greater Dublin area. The Luas Finglas project is one of four proposed Luas tram network extensions identified in the NTA transport strategy for the greater Dublin area 2022-2042, approved by the Minister for Transport and published in January 2023. The most advanced of the Luas schemes in this transport strategy is the Luas Finglas extension.

Transport Infrastructure Ireland, TII, submitted a planning application to An Coimisiún Pleanála in November 2024 for this project. Thankfully, An Coimisiún Pleanála granted the Luas Finglas railway order in October 2025. The project involves a 3.9 km extension to the Dublin Luas tram network from Broombridge to Finglas. The route will serve an estimated population of 56,000 by 2035, at four new tram stops for communities in the Finglas area: St. Helena’s; Finglas Village; St Margaret’s Road; and Charlestown. The Luas Finglas project will facilitate a number of medium to longer-term opportunities for transport orientated development, TOD, identified at sites in Broombridge, Dunsink, Jamestown and Charlestown, with an estimated capacity for over 10,000 new residential dwellings.

The project will also serve people beyond those communities through interchanges with the bus network and rail services at Broombridge train station, which is on the planned DART+ west line. In addition, the project provides for a 350 vehicle park and ride facility at St. Margaret’s Road stop, close to the M50 and M2 interchange. In the transport strategy, Luas Finglas is identified as a medium-term proposal in the strategy, scheduled for delivery within the 2031-2036 timeframe.

The Government fully understand the merits of the project. As a result, it is one of a number of projects that have been highlighted by the Minister for Transport for possible acceleration as part of the review of the national development Ppan, NDP, which was completed by the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation in July this year. The review of the NDP has confirmed the Department of Transport’s annual capital allocations from 2026 to 2030. The Department is currently reviewing key programmes and projects in the transport sector, including Luas, in the context of that capital funding envelope and a decision on a programme of delivery within the available funding will be made shortly. A related sectoral plan for transport is expected to be published in the coming weeks and this will include a clear indication on plans for Luas Finglas, which I look forward to.

The Deputy can see the NDP identifies accelerating the extension of the Luas to Finglas. That is very much welcome. As I said, An Coimisiún Pleanála made a decision last month. It is a project we can start getting excited about. I understand the concerns because we have been here before with many transport projects which have been delayed for various reasons. If the community wants it and the political will is there, I do not see why it cannot be delivered at pace.

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