Metro North and DART projects unlikely to go ahead: Varadkar

Transport Minister Leo Varadkar has signalled today that the multi-billion euro Metro North and DART underground projects for Dublin are under threat.

Mr Varadkar told the Dáil that only one of three major infrastructure projects, Metro North, DART underground or the Luas Interconnector, will go ahead, with the other two being long-fingered or abandoned.

The Minister has suggested that only the Luas project is affordable to the taxpayer and the other two would have to be Public Private Partnerships.

Mr Varadkar said while no decision has been made by Cabinet, it was clear at this stage the country cannot afford them and that even PPP's (Public Private Partnerships) may not be feasible.

"Metro North and the Dart underground can only proceed as PPPs," he said.

"If we didn't have the money for them, in the boom, out of taxpayers money; we definitely don't have the money to pay for them now.

"It is the case that there is virtually no bank or financial institution in the world that is currently willing to lend the Irish state money.