A long-term plan to extend the Luas red line to Poolbeg in Dublin could be sped up.
The Junior Transport Minister has confirmed the Government is to consider accelerating the project as part of a review of the National Development Plan.
The proposal would see the tram line at the Point continuing across the River Liffey and traveling through Ringsend and Irishtown on the southside.
Junior Transport Minister, Jerry Buttimer, told the Dáil the Luas extension has been earmarked for possible acceleration, as part of a review of the National Development Plan
It would see a tram line crossing the River Liffey, connecting East Wall with Ringsend and Irishtown.
A new suburb is planned for Poolbeg, with thousands of homes expected to be built on the old glass bottle site.
The 3FM project is a €1.1bn development plan, which includes a new bridge over the River Liffey as part of a wider strategy to improve infrastructure and essential transport links.
Meanwhile, Fine Gael TD James Geoghegan last week highlighted a “once-in-a-generation opportunity” arising from this project.
He believes it opens up the potential integration of a Luas extension into the bridge’s construction, which could connect Ringsend and Irishtown to the wider transport network.
Deputy Geoghegan said the Minister for Transport must “fast-track” plans for the extension of the Luas Red Line from the Point through Ringsend and Irishtown.
“We need some common sense and joined-up thinking when it comes to delivering public transport in Dublin,” he said.
“A major new bridge is already planned as part of Dublin Port’s 3FM expansion, with construction expected to begin by 2027.
“It would be madness not to integrate the Luas extension into this project rather than trying to retrofit a solution years later at a far greater cost to the taxpayer.
“The Southern Port Access Route (SPAR), a key element of the 3FM plan, will provide a crucial new link across the Liffey and presents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to deliver the Luas extension in a cost-effective and efficient manner.
“We know that up to 10,000 more people will be moving into the Poolbeg area in the coming years.
“Infrastructure must come first, not last, and the Minister should act now to ensure taxpayers aren’t footing a far higher bill down the line when this extension inevitably has to be built anyway,” he added.
He also highlighted that the expansion of the Luas in this direction would provide a “key transport connection to Heuston Station”.
It would also be a short walk from the Grand Canal Dock Dart station, enhancing overall connectivity across the city, which aligns with Dublin City Council’s overall City Centre Transport Plan.
Although the 3FM project, which includes the proposed new bridge over the River Liffey, has been outlined as part of Dublin Port’s development plans, it has not yet been approved.
The project is currently undergoing the necessary planning and approval processes, with Dublin Port Company awaiting final decisions on the extensive infrastructure improvements, including the Southern Port Access Route.
