Paul McAuliffe (Dublin North-West, Fianna Fail)
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117. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to ensure that the construction phase of the Luas extension to Finglas is funded and will proceed when the planning application is decided. [9438/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport. The National Transport Authority (NTA) has statutory responsibility for the planning and development of public transport infrastructure in the Greater Dublin Area (GDA), including light rail.

Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), as Sponsoring Agency, prepared a Preliminary Business Case for the Luas Finglas project and approved the NTA as the day-to-day Approving Authority approved it for submission to the Department of Transport. In October 2024, the Government consented to approval in principle for the Luas Finglas project at Approval Gate 1 of the Infrastructure Guidelines. TII lodged a Railway Order (planning) application for the project with An Bord Pleanála in November 2024.

The Luas Finglas project is part of four proposed Luas network extensions identified in the NTA statutory Transport Strategy for the GDA 2022-2042. The development of a Luas green line extension to serve Finglas is part of the strategy’s medium-term proposals, for development and delivery within the 2031-2036 timeframe. Should the Railway Order for the Luas Finglas project be granted, the NTA will need to provide my Department with a detailed business case and procurement strategy. As is the case with all major projects, Government consent must then be acquired at Approval Gate 3 of the Infrastructure Guidelines for funding to be secure for the project and for construction to commence.