A resolution has been reached in a series of legal challenges to the planned Luas extension to Finglas in northwest Dublin, clearing the way for the project to proceed.
At the High Court, Richard Humphreys made orders, by agreement of all parties, to strike out three separate cases taken by a number of businesses against the development. The actions had challenged the decision by An Coimisiún Pleanála to grant a railway order to Transport Infrastructure Ireland for the Luas extension.
The proposed project will extend the Green Line from its current terminus at Broombridge in Cabra to Charlestown, located north of Finglas village. The route will span just under 4km and is expected to cost in the region of €600 million, with four new stops planned along the line.
The legal proceedings were brought by several firms, including Firethorn Ltd, linked to the Manhattan Peanuts factory on McKee Avenue, as well as Brooks Timber & Building Supplies Ltd, Downshire Propco Ltd, and Murdock Builders Merchants (Ireland) Ltd. The companies had raised objections to elements of the approved route affecting their properties.
As part of the settlement, the court approved an amendment to the railway order in the cases involving Firethorn and Murdock Builders. This change removes lands owned by Firethorn from the scope of the project.
During the hearing, counsel for Transport Infrastructure Ireland said that "the effect of striking out the cases is that the railway order is operative," enabling progress on the Luas extension to move ahead.
The judge welcomed the agreement, thanking all parties and noting their cooperation in resolving the dispute.
The development marks a significant step forward for the long-planned extension, which is intended to improve public transport links between Cabra and Finglas. However, despite the resolution of the legal challenges, construction is not expected to begin in the immediate future, with the National Development Plan indicating a likely start date of 2029.
