Fianna Fáil TD for Dublin Mid-West and Transport spokesperson Shane Moynihan has urged renewed urgency to ensure the long-promised Luas extension to Lucan is delivered as a priority.
Deputy Moynihan welcomed confirmation from Minister for Transport, Darragh O’Brien TD, that the Luas Lucan line is among several key public transport projects being considered for possible acceleration in the upcoming National Development Plan review.
Raising the matter in the Dáil today, Deputy Moynihan said, “As a Government TD, I am committed to bringing a renewed focus to this project. Communities like Lucan are expected to shoulder significant housing expansion, we cannot continue to ask people to wait for transport infrastructure to catch up.
Deputy Moynihan said there is now a critical window of opportunity to push the project forward under the current Government, and welcomed news that the Emerging Preferred Route will be open for public consultation next year.
‘At the core of the revised National Planning Framework is an objective to prioritise transport-oriented development. For a growing suburb like Lucan, it is crucial to make long-term infrastructural decisions, including investing in a light rail line,” he added.
The Fianna Fáil TD further highlighted the broader benefits of the Luas Lucan project,“ Research consistently shows that light rail is the most sustainable and scalable transport solution for suburbs like Lucan. It offers the capacity needed for population growth, along with the environmental and accessibility advantages our communities deserve. A Luas to Lucan will support compact, connected communities rather than isolated housing estates.”
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