Paul McAuliffe (Dublin North-West, Fianna Fail)
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95. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to provide an update on the Finglas Luas expansion project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34107/25]

Paul McAuliffe (Dublin North-West, Fianna Fail)
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I want to raise an issue that is identified in the national development programme, which is the Finglas Luas project. It is a fantastic project that makes a lot of sense, with 4 km and four stops connecting it to an existing line that will give access to thousands of people in my constituency. We are one of the few constituencies in the country that does not have rail services. We are entirely reliant on bus services. However, we hope the Finglas Luas will come out of planning this year, and we want to make sure that next year it goes to construction.

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy knows this project well. It is one of four proposed Luas tram extensions that have been identified by the NTA as part of the current statutory transport strategy for the greater Dublin area. This project is 3.9 km, just short of 4 km, but still extensive as it would extend the Dublin tram network from Broombridge to Finglas.

This is eminently doable. The route will serve an estimated population of 56,000 by 2035 at four new stops, namely, St. Helena’s, Finglas village, St. Margaret’s Road and Charlestown. The Deputy has been a strong advocate for this and continues to be. The project will serve people beyond those communities through interchanges with the bus network and with 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 the St. Margaret’s Road stop, close to the M50-M2 interchange.

Transport Infrastructure Ireland, as the sponsoring agency, prepared the preliminary business case for Luas Finglas, while the NTA, as the day-to-day approving authority, approved it for submission to the Department of Transport. In October 2024, the Government approved the project at approval gate 1 of the infrastructure guidelines. That was a very significant step. TII did not delay. The following month, it lodged a railway order application with An Bord Pleanála. I am pleased to say I understand the board has recently confirmed that a decision will be made before 30 September 2025. It is not often the board comes out with a definitive date like that. That in itself is very significant.

Should the railway order be granted, the NTA will need to provide my Department with a procurement strategy for Luas Finglas, as is normal, under the infrastructure guidelines. Following ministerial approval, the project can enter the procurement stage. Subject to the planning decision, this project will be transformational for residents of the Deputy's constituency and the surrounding area, who will be able to link through the other networks.

Paul McAuliffe (Dublin North-West, Fianna Fail)
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It is very welcome that we will have a planning decision by 30 September. The Minister is right that the decision to bring it to the Cabinet for gate 1 was really important. The Minister, Deputy Lawless, really assisted us in doing that. He came on site and examined the potential of it. I was pleased the Cabinet signed off on that.

Almost all the Luas projects that have happened have gone through the planning and procurement phase in one five-year cycle and in the second five years they have been constructed and delivered. That is where we need to focus now. We are looking beyond planning and procurement to the potential of the site. It has the potential to unlock more housing in the area, which is crucial. When we built Finglas west and Finglas south, there was a line through the middle of it. That line was intended for a railway project many decades ago. While this is being prioritised, there is a legacy here. This will deliver for our constituency. I want to ensure the Minister is aware of it, which he is, and that we keep the pressure on the NTA and TII to deliver it.

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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I have been many times in the Deputy's constituency and in Finglas. I want to see this project move forward to construction and delivery. We have a couple of hurdles but not big ones. We have to get through planning. Should that be granted, there is then the procurement strategy for Luas Finglas under the infrastructure guidelines. Ministerial approval will follow that and the project can then enter the procurement stage. As is the case with all projects, this will go through Government consent and must receive approval at gate 3.

The project has a lot going for it. The construction is relatively simple for the very reason the Deputy highlighted. The railway corridor is there. The population and housing have developed around it and will allow us to develop more. Transport-oriented development is what we want for new homes and businesses.

I await with interest the decision prior to 30 September and look forward to working with the Deputy directly to deliver this project for Finglas.

Paul McAuliffe (Dublin North-West, Fianna Fail)
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Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire. I see we are making good progress on that. We will keep a watchful eye and ensure it continues. Many people on the other side of the constituency will hope for the delivery of the metro project with the same urgency. It is a far more complex and detailed project but one that has been promised for some time. The review of the national development plan is happening in the next couple of weeks. Those two key projects in my constituency are really important, along with the BusConnects projects. The core bus corridors are the quickest and easiest ways to deliver better public transport in our areas. The network design was not uncontroversial and there was a great deal of input from people. I still have issues with certain elements of it but the core bus corridors will be important in providing high-frequency access. Those are my three asks. I wish the Minister the best of luck in his portfolio. It is the first time I have had the opportunity to ask him questions on it. I look forward to working with him on it.

Shane Moynihan (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
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I congratulate my colleague, Deputy McAuliffe, on his advocacy for Finglas Luas. The Minister will know Luas Lucan is very important to me. I am keen to know about the overall set of plans identified by the NTA for extension of Luas lines around Dublin. Will he consider putting a standing Luas project office in place to think of continued expansion of light rail? It is fair to say we have developed an expertise in the construction of light rail. We do it well, on time and in budget. We have a real opportunity to build a comparative advantage so it might be worth considering for the future.

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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That point is a very good one. TII has built up excellent expertise and knowledge in delivery of those projects. Expansion of the Luas network needs to be looked at in the round and that is being done. Deputy McAuliffe mentioned MetroLink and we expect that to come out of planning with a final decision - not a draft decision - in the month of July. That would be a transformational project for the north Dublin area from the airport right into the city through Ballymun, and indeed beyond. The challenge and opportunity for the Government and everyone in the House is that many of these projects are now coming through planning, including DART+ South West, DART+ West + and DART+ Coastal North. All of those projects will be coming through. Moreover, BusConnects will start this year. Twelve projects have come through An Bord Pleanála. Four or five of them are unencumbered by judicial review. I have two tenders back in already. We expect to award a contract on the first one, which will see construction on the first BusConnects corridor happening this year. That is what the public wants to see. It wants to see investment in public transport infrastructure - bus, rail, Luas and metro.