Varadkar: No decision yet made on Metro North

Transport Minister Leo Varadkar has admitted that a decision still has to made Dublin's Metro North rail transport project.

Speaking this morning Minister Varadkar said he hopes at least one of the major rail projects planned will get the green light. However he has refused to indicate whether it will be Metro North, saying it's all a matter of "affordability".

His comments follow reports today that the €2.5bn project linking Dublin City with Dublin Airport will be shelved.

It is understood that the Government could instead look towards a 20-year-old plan of building an extension to the Dart line.

Minister Varadkar said the Government was carrying out a "comprehensive spending review" in relation to rail infrastructure projects and hoped to have a decision made after the review concludes in September.

"It is my ambition that at least one of the major rail projects will go ahead, but it is all a matter of affordability," he said.

"That is the major constraint facing the Government - we are effectively in receivership.

"We don't have the money we had in the past and we don't even have the money that we thought we had six months ago."