The Minister for Transport has 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.
The NTA’s Transport Strategy for the GDA 2022-2024 sets out a framework for transport investment across the region over a 20-year period. As the Deputy may be aware, the development of a Luas red line extension to serve Poolbeg is part of the strategy’s longer-term proposals, for development and delivery within the 2037-2042 timeframe. It is part of a number of proposed Luas network extensions for the period up to 2042. In the planning and design of the extension of the Luas to Poolbeg, existing and future major developments in the Poolbeg area will be considered.
I understand that the 3FM Project is focused on developing additional port capacity on port-owned brown-field lands on the Poolbeg Peninsula, with a planning application to An Bord Pleanála submitted in July 2024. This project covers the major works that need to be delivered in the south port so as to deliver the Masterplan 2040 capacity provision. The 3FM Project includes the construction of a new bridge across the River Liffey as part of the Southern Port Access Route (SPAR), removing heavy goods vehicles (HGVs), port and commercial traffic from existing public roads leading to and from the Tom Clarke Bridge, while giving pedestrians, cyclists and public transport users 7km of cycle and pedestrian routes for active travel across the Poolbeg Peninsula and River Liffey. If granted planning permission, completion of the overall 3FM project is anticipated by 2040. This is in line with the National Development Plan, National Ports Policy and the Greater Dublin Area Transport Strategy.
The new Programme for Government commits to reviewing and enhancing the National Development Plan (NDP) to deliver on existing strategically important transport infrastructure commitments, and consider the needs of new or accelerated potential projects and programmes. This NDP review may examine the need for further investment in light rail in this context, such as the extension of the Luas to Poolbeg.
