Taoiseach admits 'lessons have to be learned' from children's hospital budget overruns 

Taoiseach Micheál Martin gives a high five to Liam Tomney, 4, during his visit to the National Children's Hospital site. Pictures: Julien Behal

The Taoiseach has said that while “lessons have to be learned” from the budget overruns at the National Children’s Hospital, he expects the finished building to move the country's paediatric care up "a significant number of levels”.

However, as he attended the build site at St James's Hospital campus in Dublin, the Taoiseach declined to comment when asked what the over-budget project says about the State’s ability to manage large-scale infrastructure construction, since he was present “for a positive reason”.