Half of the operating theatres at the new National Children's Hospital will have to be rebuilt if they are to be used for surgery. 

According to reports from The Irish Mail on Sunday, there are serious problems with the ventilation system and half of the theatres are 'not fit for purpose'. 

The work required to make these theatres functional could cost tens of millions of euros and delay construction by another year. 

It is believed the problems with the operating theatres were made aware to the board of the hospital in May 2022. 

Sinn Féin Health Spokesperson David Cullinane said delays in repairs will push the completion of the hospital further back. 

“The longer they took to take decisive action and remedial action in relation to these operating theatres, the works will become more expensive and time consuming,” he said. 

The TD said the board and construction company need to be transparent on the future of the hospital. 

“What we really need to know at this point, as quickly as possible, is what is the full extent of the works, when will these works be carried out and how much will it cost,” he said. 

“My concern is in relation to the March deadline which has been set and repeated time and again by the Government over the last number of months for completion of the project.” 

The National Children’s Hospital was reportedly expected to open in March 2025.

The National Children’s Hospital was first intended to open in 2014, but it has been delayed by controversy over its cost and location throughout the past nine years.