Children's hospital 'facing planning difficulties'

The planned National Children's Hospital at St James's Hospital in Dublin is reported to be facing planning difficulties.

According to The Sunday Business Post, the Office of Public Works has warned that the development is expected to be too large for planning guidelines and that the zoning of the land is "no longer clear" following a High Court ruling earlier this year.

In February, An Bord Pleanála rejected plans to build the hospital at the Mater site in Dublin because of the impact it would have on the city's skyline.

The hospital is expected to cost about €500m and be completed by 2018.