The National Children's Hospital is being further delayed.

The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) will today hear the hospital will not meet its scheduled completion date at the end of October.

Representatives from National Paediatric Hospital Development Board, Health Service Executive (HSE) and Department of Health will appear before the committee this morning.

Construction underway on the site of the new National Children's Hospital in Dublin. Image: BAM Ireland

Last February the Government gave the green light for a budget of €2.24bn for the hospital, but a statement from the National Paediatric Hospital Development Board warns ongoing delays are driving up costs.

TDs are seeking answers following further delays to the completion of the project.

The National Paediatric Hospital Development Board will advise the PAC that the hospital will not meet its scheduled completion date at the end of October.

Sinn Fein TD and Public Accounts Committee Chairman Brian Stanley said they will be seeking clarity.

"What we're hoping for is some answers in relation to what the completition date is for this hospital," he said.

"We know now that it has overun the original period by sabout four years.

"This hospital is badly needed, the public understand that, children need to be treated and need to be treated in a tinely manner.

"The fact that we don't have a modern children's hospital has hampered that."

Construction underway on the site of the new National Children's Hospital in Dublin. Image: BAM Ireland

Deputy Stanley said questions will also be asked around cost.

"This cost has moved upwards and upwards and upwards," he said.

"We know have €2.24 billion committed by Government to this project in terms of completion and fit out.

"The costs continue to rise, we need to know how far that's going to go," he added.

Last year then Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said the hospital would open in 2024 despite claims by Sinn Féin.

“As is the case with any hospital, it takes a number of months for it to be commissioned,” Mr Varadkar said. “But we do anticipate that the first patients will be seen there at some point in 2024.”

Sinn Féin claimed it was told there is major work to go ahead on the 11 operating theatres that will delay the project.

The main contractor of the project, BAM, said its sole focus is on delivering the Children’s Hospital.

Last year an Oireachtas committee heard just 27 rooms have been completed out of a target of 3,000.

Main image: Construction underway on the site of the new National Children's Hospital in Dublin. Image: BAM Ireland