Children's Hospital: 'Fair assumption' that project will exceed €1.7bn budget

Robert Watt told the PAC that he may be able to provide an update to the public regarding costs and completion dates of the hospital “hopefully when we reach another milestone in the contract”.

The head of the Department of Health has acknowledged it is a “fair assumption” that the controversial National Children’s Hospital will eventually cost more than its €1.7bn budget.

However, Robert Watt has refused to clarify for the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) where those costs currently stand, and has also refused to release a report detailing future cost estimates of the hospital for reasons of “commercial sensitivity”.