Update 11.15am: The cost of not proceeding with the national children’s hospital “would not be worth it” is the opinion of the Minister for Health Simon Harris. Mr Donnelly said that the escalating cost of the children’s hospital could have “devastating” knock-on effect on other health projects. “In a normal hospital the cost is €1million per bed, for the children’s hospital it is currently at €3.7million per bed.”He said that accountability is important, but what was more important was getting costs down. Minister for Finance and Public Expenditure Paschal Donohoe says he believes information on the escalating cost of the national children’s hospital should have been made available to the Government earlier. Mr Donohoe said that next week he would announce a list of capital projects that may be delayed because of the escalating cost of the children’s hospital.

Source: Irish Examiner February 04, 2019 07:18 UTC