Watchdog still does not know final cost of children's hospital

The Department of Health refused to provide a figure due to 'commercial sensitivity'. Picture: Brian Lawless

The State’s spending watchdog still does know what the final cost of the National Children’s Hospital will be, three years after the last estimate put the project at €1.7bn.

Secretary general of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform David Moloney said it “remains the position” that responsibility for the project budget rests with the Department of Health, which has yet to deliver final cost estimates.