A total of Euros 183 million has already been spent on Dart
Underground, an 8.6km city-centre connection between Dublin's northern
and western commuter rail routes (pictured); Metro North, the city's first light
metro line; and the St Stephen's Green - Liffey Junction extension of
the Luas light rail network.
Underground, an 8.6km city-centre connection between Dublin's northern
and western commuter rail routes (pictured); Metro North, the city's first light
metro line; and the St Stephen's Green - Liffey Junction extension of
the Luas light rail network.
Transport Minister Mr Leo Varadkar says the government can only affordto proceed with one of these projects in the next five years and an
announcement will be made in September on which scheme will go ahead.
Varadkar says the other two projects could be revived when fiscal
conditions improve.
Euros 135 million has so far been spent on Metro North, which was
granted a Railway Order in October 2010 allowing tendering to begin.
The Railway Procurement Agency says that contracts are ready to sign
and once government approval is given construction could begin within
three months. Construction was due to start next year on Dart
Underground and Euros 40 million has already been spent on this
project.
Last August a government spending review spared all three projects from
the axe. However in November the Irish government announced it had
sought a bailout worth around Euros 100 billion from the European Union
and the International Monetary Fund, which came with strict conditions
for reigning in public spending. Political turmoil in the wake of the
rescue deal led to early elections and the appointment of a new
government in February this year.
