Construction on the new national childrens hospital moved a step closer this week after the Government formally offered the building contract to BAM Ireland.
The new project which will see all three children’s hospitals including Tallaght, Temple Street and Crumlin being merged into one state art facility on the St James’s site will reportedly cost €1bn to construct.
The new hospital which has been subjected to strong criticism mainly over cost and location issues, will reportedly cost €300m more than originally estimated.
In recent months a number of opposition TDs have questioned the spiralling costs of building the new top class facility after the state claimed it would only cost €650m to build.
The Government say they hope the much needed hospital will go ahead as planned despite the excessive costs, although they have admitted further options will have to be explored to fund the project.
It is thought the state agreed to offer BAM the contract after they submitted the lowest bid. The awarding of the contract now means that construction can get underway sooner than expected, although there will be a 44 day waiting period in order to facilitate any objections or other possible legal issues.
The government say they hope the hospital will be completed by 2021.