The N81 continues past Tullow for another 8 km to terminate at the village of Closh, County Carlow, where it intersects the N80.

There are plans to extend the dual carriageway by 5 km (3.1 mi) to the urban boundary.

[citation needed] In the 1990s when it was proposed to reestablish a tram system in Dublin due to chronic traffic congestion (see Luas), the old tram route from the city centre via Terenure to Tallaght was proposed.

[citation needed] In a Dáil Éireann debate dated 2 July 2019 it was mentioned that the N81 is one of the most dangerous roads in the State with twice the national average for single vehicle collisions and seven times the national average of head-on collisions.

[3] In 2021 Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan mentioned that the N81 Tallaght to Hollywood Cross road improvement scheme was not included in the projects to be developed during the current NDP period of 2018–2027, in effect pausing any work on the project until after this date.