The Luas could be extended to Finglas in Dublin by 2031.
The Minister for Transport is looking for approval from his Cabinet colleagues on Tuesday for the project which would run for four stops from Broombridge.
It is expected trams would take half an hour from the furthest stop at Charlestown to College Green.
Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan said the project was relatively straight-forward.
"This extends the Luas line, which currently runs as far as Broombridge, it will currently run north from there.
"Four kilometres, through Finglas village, connecting towards the M50 where we would put a park and ride site in to try and get people out of their cars and into public transport.
"It will be transformative for the 60,000 people along the route, Finglas particularly, and it will improve their journey time from the city centre from about 45 minutes to 30 minutes."
Under the Transport Strategy for the Greater Dublin Area the Finglas Luas line had been scheduled for completion by 2036.
A positive Cabinet decision would allow Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), the State body with responsibility for developing the line, to seek planning consent from An Bord Pleanála for its development, which could push its expected completion forward by several years.
The project received a boost last year with the approval by Dublin City Council of a regeneration masterplan for the Jamestown Business Park, 43 hectares of industrial lands to the north of Finglas village.
The land has been identified as having the potential for 3,800 homes, accommodating a population of up to 8,000 people.
More than half the sites have been classified by the council as “immediately available” for development, and substantial numbers of homes could be in place before the Luas starts operating.
