The Minister for Transport is seeking approval from Cabinet on Tuesday for the project, which would add four new stops, starting from Broombridge.

Trams are expected to take about 30 minutes to travel from the most distant stop in Charlestown to College Green.

Transport Minister Eamon Ryan described the project as relatively straightforward: “This extension will take the Luas line, which currently terminates at Broombridge, and extend it further north. It will cover a distance of four kilometres, passing through Finglas village and connecting to the M50, where a park-and-ride facility will be built to encourage people to switch from cars to public transport.

“It will have a transformative effect on the 60,000 people living along the route, particularly in Finglas, reducing their travel time to the city centre from around 45 minutes to 30.”

According to the Transport Strategy for the Greater Dublin Area, the Finglas Luas line was originally planned for completion by 2036.

However, if the Cabinet approves the project, Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) could seek planning approval from An Bord Pleanála, potentially accelerating the timeline by several years.

The project gained momentum last year when Dublin City Council approved a regeneration plan for the Jamestown Business Park, 43 hectares of industrial land north of Finglas village. The site has the potential for 3,800 new homes, accommodating up to 8,000 people.

Over half of the land has been classified as “immediately available” for development, and a significant number of homes could be built before the Luas extension becomes operational.