National Maternity Hospital costs approaching €150m before construction begins 

Secretary general of the Department of Health Robert Watt said that roughly €147m has been spent on the project to date when Vat is included, including €38.2m on specific enabling works. Picture: Sam Boal/RollingNews.ie

Costs at the National Maternity Hospital have soared to nearly €150m before construction has even begun, in a process described as being inspired by “direct learning from the National Children’s Hospital”.

The Department of Health said that “significant enabling works are required for a project of this scale”, in reference to the ambitious €2bn hospital build at the St Vincent’s campus in south Dublin.