Govt Urged To Limit Cost Increases On National Children's Hospital

The government has been called to prevent more rising costs on the National Children's Hospital project.

The facillity has risen in cost from an estimated €800 million in 2014 to today's price-tag of €1.73 billion. A recent PWC report also found that the final cost of the building could even exceed the higher estimation.

Fianna Fáil's Niamh Smyth has expressed serious concern that other projects could be targeted to make up the shortfall for the hospital if other savings aren't found.

Deputy Smyth commented: "This hospital could and should be built for a lot less than its present €1.73 bn price-tag. It must be possible to reduce costs without compromising on quality for the vulnerable children from Cavan-Monaghan and nationwide that we are trying to help.


"A lot of money has been spent when alternatives are there. As my Party colleague, Health spokesperson Stephen Donnelly has said, the structure of the building has resulted in a higher cost. There's a reason that we don't see many donut-shaped buildings, with curved-glass walls and a hole in the middle, that's because they're so expensive to construct.

"It is a matter of real concern that Fine Gael believe the cost is 'reasonable'. It is nearly €2bn in total and we have not completed the build. The government must reflect on these rising costs and ensure there are no further increases while looking for saving measures. Otherwise, I fear publicly funded projects in our constituency could be hit," concluded Deputy Smyth.

(CM/JG)