OPW has ‘no money’ for national children’s science centre it is legally obliged to build

Long mired in controversy, the centre's estimated cost has ballooned from €14.3m in 2003 to over €70.4m now

A visualisation of the proposed National Children’s Science Centre in Dublin. OPW minister Kevin ‘Boxer’ Moran said: 'We have no sponsoring department within government to take it on.' Picture: 3ddesignbureau.com

Wed, 24 Jun, 2026 - 01:05

Elaine Loughlin

The minister for the OPW has insisted there is “no money” and “no budget” to build a proposed children’s science centre, which has been mired in controversy and setbacks.

The Office of Public Works (OPW) first committed to developing the facility 23 years ago, and is legally obligated to build the centre.

In 2003, when the OPW entered an agreement with the charity promoting the project, the Irish Children’s Museum Ltd, it was estimated that it would cost €14.3m to deliver.

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However, the price had ballooned to €26m by 2013, and it has now risen to over €70.4m at the last estimate.

Asked about the project, OPW minister Kevin ‘Boxer’ Moran said:

We have no money in our budget.

"We have no sponsoring department within government to take it on, and there is no money in the National Development Plan to build a children’s science museum. But I want to meet with the board shortly, and I’ll outline that to them and see can we move it on.”

Pressed on the fact that the Government is obligated to tender for the project by the end of the year, Mr Moran said: “I’m stating the fact that I have no money in my budget, I have no money in the National Development Plan, and I will meet with the board myself very shortly.”

Irish Children’s Museum Ltd — a consortium of high-profile individuals including immunologist Luke O’Neill; Ali Hewson, the wife of U2 frontman Bono; and barrister Michael Collins — stated that it “remains committed to working with all stakeholders to advance” construction of the centre.

Mr Moran was speaking in Dublin’s GPO, after the Cabinet agreed that the ownership of the GPO complex should transfer to the OPW from the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport to allow for a full redevelopment of the iconic site.

A wide-ranging public consultation process will begin this year will seek the views of all stakeholders on its future use.