€50m to be added to cost of National Children's Hospital due to construction inflation

While the original completion date for the hospital was set for August 2022, the contractor is 'now forecasting a substantial completion date of end January 2024'

Chair of the National Paediatric Hospital Development Board David Gunning has said programme delays, Covid, Brexit and inflation means that the final cost of the hospital will go above the €1.433bn that was already approved by the Government. Picture: Sasko Lazarov / Rollingnews.ie

At least €50m will be added to the cost of the National Children's Hospital to allow for hyperinflation in construction, it has been revealed.

However, this figure could rise significantly, with the chair of the National Paediatric Hospital Development Board (NPHB) stating: "Where will it end up? We don't know."