The board overseeing the development of the new National Children's Hospital says there's "no expectation" it'll be completed by the latest deadline.
It's also emerged the main contractor has submitted claims for extra costs worth over €200 million.
Following a series of delays in recent years, it was estimated that the National Children's Hospital would be completed by August 2022.
However, David Gunning from the National Paediatric Hospital Development Board (NPHDB) said it's not looking likely that'll happen.
He told the Oireachtas Health Committee: "It's absolutely fair to say that we have no expectation at this time that that date will be fulfilled."
It led to questions from members of the committee for clarity on what the new estimated completion date is.
The board said it won't be able to answer that question until the early part of next year.
It has also emerged the main contractor BAM has submitted claims for significant extra costs.
Mr Gunning said there are currently over 600 claims for a total amount of €200 million.
Delays
The board told TDs and Senators that BAM didn't re-open the construction site until seven weeks after it was allowed to under COVID-19 restrictions.
Construction was halted in March but didn't resume until mid-July.
The board says progress is still being made on the construction site, but not the progress they'd like.
They're now withholding 15% of fees owed to BAM each month due to delays.
In a statement this evening, BAM insisted it remains committed to delivering the project 'as quickly and efficiently as possible'.
They said new amendments and design work is needed all the time, so it is "hardly surprising" there are hundreds of notifications about potential additional costs or delays.
Speaking after today's committee meeting, Social Democrats co-leader Róisín Shortall said the lack of a 'working assumption' on the estimated completion date and total costs of the project is 'particularly frustrating'.
She said: "More than nine months of progress has been lost this year alone and who knows what else is going to hold this project up.
“It is highly unsatisfactory that that board was not able to answer our questions today and it is not an acceptable way for a public body to operate.”
