SOARING COSTS OUTSTRIP INDUSTRY INFLATION
THE costs of the National Maternity Hospital project have escalated steeply since its initial launch by the former health minister James Reilly, who pledged an ‘indicative sum’ of €150m towards its construction back in 2013.
By 2017, the government and senior medical figures such as Peter Boylan accepted the more likely sum would be around €350m.
And at a private briefing last June the Department of Health indicated the cost had increased to €800m.
The soaring estimated costs of the hospital project have significantly overtaken inflation rates in the construction sector.
According to a study on construction industry inflation rates carried out by the consultancy company Linesight, figures indicate the bill for the new maternity hospital should be €341.6m, based on Mr Reilly’s initial budget of €150m.
In response to queries on the anticipated cost of the NMH, Health Minister Stephen Donnelly said: ‘The cost will be dependent in large part on the tendering process.’