Plans for a Luas extension to Poolbeg are moving forward far earlier than previously anticipated, according to Fine Gael TD James Geoghegan, who says the long-discussed project has now entered a new and accelerated phase of development.
The Dublin Bay South representative confirmed he received updated information from the National Transport Authority (NTA) in response to a parliamentary question, indicating that the Luas Poolbeg proposal is no longer considered a distant, post-2042 ambition.
“This project was once viewed as decades away but is now advancing to the next stage of development ahead of major changes in population growth and infrastructure planning in Dublin’s docklands,” Deputy Geoghegan said.
The NTA has confirmed that the Luas Poolbeg pre-feasibility study has been completed, and that Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) has been instructed to progress the scheme to Phase 1 of the NTA’s Project Approval Guidelines in 2026. This phase will include the procurement of engineering designers, marking a significant step towards delivery.
As recently as 2021, the authority had stated that the extension would not be examined until after 2042, based on projected demand at the time. However, that position has now changed substantially due to rapid residential development in the Poolbeg peninsula and surrounding docklands.
Deputy Geoghegan said the scale of housing delivery has transformed the case for the project.
“We are now seeing real housing delivery in the area, including almost 1,000 people currently moving into the Glass Bottle site alone, with many thousands more to follow as development continues,” he said.
He added that he has been campaigning for the extension for months, arguing that transport infrastructure must keep pace with population growth.
“I have consistently pushed for a common-sense approach, aligning the Luas extension with Dublin Port’s expansion plans, including the new bridge which has already been structurally designed to accommodate Luas tracks,” he said.
The proposed tram line would run from the 3Arena area to Poolbeg, linking Dublin’s northside and southside while serving major new housing developments. The route would utilise a new bridge being developed as part of Dublin Port’s 3FM and Southern Port Access Route project.
According to Deputy Geoghegan, the bridge is designed not only to facilitate Luas services but also to remove heavy goods vehicles from existing public roads, easing congestion while enabling high-capacity public transport into the Poolbeg area.
“The confirmation I’ve received from the NTA shows that this project is now actively moving forward and on a dramatically accelerated timeline compared to what was originally envisaged,” he said.
If delivered, the extension would mark a major expansion of Dublin’s Luas network and provide critical transport infrastructure for one of the capital’s fastest-growing districts.
