Plans by the Railway Procurement Agency (RPA) to extend the Tallaght Luas line through Dublin's north docklands from Connolly Station to the Point have been approved by Minister for Transport Martin Cullen
The 1.5km (one mile) extension, which will cost at least €90 million though no official cost estimate has ever been released, is designed to cater for the growing workforce and residential population of the area.
It was the subject of a public inquiry in June, presided over by James Connolly SC, who Mr Cullen thanked for his "professional and thorough" approach.
Mr Connolly's report has been on the Minister's desk since July.
The double-track line would run from the existing terminus of the Tallaght line at Connolly Station, with trams reversing out to serve three stops - George's Dock, Mayor Square and Spencer Dock - on its way to the Point.
There had been strong opposition to the Mayor Street route from elements in the International Financial Services Centre (IFSC) based on fears that fibre-optic telecoms cables essential to its business would be severed by construction work.
However, RPA chief executive Frank Allen said he had spent the summer of 2005 "going from bank to bank in the IFSC" to reassure them that protection would be given to telecoms infrastructure along the proposed route.
"We can't guarantee that no line will ever be cut, but we told all of the banks down there that the RPA will provide back-up at our own expense, so if we cut a line through the front door we'll provide it through the back door."
The main opposition came from a group called the IFSC Steering Committee, which sought to have the extension rerouted on to North Wall Quay. In the end, however, this group did not make a submission at the public inquiry.
The Minister's decision to approve the necessary railway order to allow the extension to proceed is open to judicial review for two months.
If it is not challenged in the High Court, the RPA hopes to start construction next summer.
The extended line is scheduled to be completed in 2009.
According to Mr Cullen, it is expected to add over two million new Luas trips per annum by 2016, removing over one million vehicle trips from the streets of Dublin.
The proposed extension of the Sandyford Luas line to Cherrywood is being held up by judicial review proceedings taken by the owners of a listed Georgian house which would have to be demolished to facilitate the scheme. This seven kilometres (four miles) extension was the subject of a public inquiry in March, on which the presiding inspector (James Connolly SC) reported in April.
Mr Cullen signed a railway order for it in August, but the legal challenge followed.
"We hope the case will be heard in the High Court before the end of January," Mr Allen said.
"If this action hadn't happened we would have been able to start work on the extension last month because the contracts are in place."
