The head of the Jack and Jill foundation has described the plan to build the new national children's hospital at St James's Hospital as an 'idiot' idea.
It comes as almost €40m of taxpayers money spent on the failed bid to build the hospital at the Mater site in Dublin is being written-off.
The figure was revealed in accounts from the Development Board, which has since moved the project to St James's.
The €40m in costs includes almost €25m on business services, €6m on design and €3m on project management.
The Irish Times health correspondent Paul Cullen says it is hoped some of the money can be recouped.
While Jonathan Irwin, the CEO of the Jack and Jill children's charity, says the campus for the centralised paediatric unit at St James's is unsuitable and will prove to be a minefield.
He does not believe the new hospital will be delivered on target for 2018.
And he told the Pat Kenny Show here on Newstalk that the location should be changed to Blanchardstown Hospital, which has more space.
