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June 2025 – Department of Health
Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill T.D. has officially announced that the new children’s hospital, currently under construction, will be named National Children’s Hospital Ireland (NCHI).
Set to be the largest and most advanced paediatric facility in the country, NCHI will consolidate services from Temple Street, Crumlin, and Tallaght children’s hospitals into a single, state-of-the-art, digitally enabled campus. The hospital will serve as a central hub in a national network of paediatric care, working with regional and local units to ensure equitable access to healthcare for all children.
The name was chosen following a comprehensive stakeholder engagement process, involving parents, staff, and key advisory groups, including the Youth Advisory Council (YAC) and Family Advisory Network (FAN). Minister Carroll MacNeill noted that the chosen name reflects clarity, accessibility, and the hospital’s national significance.
“When a parent or guardian is getting off a train at Heuston or Connolly and getting a taxi for their child’s appointment, they’ll be able to say: ‘Take me to the National Children’s Hospital Ireland’—and there will be no doubt about where they are going,” the Minister said.
She described the hospital as “the most significant capital investment in the Irish healthcare system,” representing the Government’s commitment to delivering high-quality, accessible care for children and young people.
Hospital Facilities and Capacity
Aligned with the Sláintecare strategy, NCHI will deliver integrated paediatric care across 39 clinical specialties. Key features include:
- 380 inpatient beds, including 300 general beds
- 60 critical care beds (an 88% increase from current capacity)
- 22 cardiac, 20 paediatric, 18 neonatal beds (a 50% increase in neonatal capacity)
- 20 Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) beds
- 93 day beds (18% increase)
- 22 operating theatres and procedure rooms (47% increase)
- 300-seat lecture theatre for medical education and training
- Inpatient rooms with ensuite bathrooms and parent accommodation
- Educational facilities to support schooling during treatment
The hospital will also be supported by satellite centres at Connolly and Tallaght, which opened in 2019 and 2021, respectively. These centres offer ambulatory and outpatient care for children in the Greater Dublin Area. As of May 2025, Connolly’s satellite centre has treated over 100,000 children.
Naming Process and Stakeholder Involvement
The naming process was shaped by principles of inclusivity, engagement, and efficiency. Feedback was collected from:
- Youth Advisory Council (YAC) – Young people aged 13–22 with lived experience of CHI services
- Family Advisory Network (FAN) – A group of parents and CHI staff co-designed to enhance family involvement in projects and service development
The methodology built on prior naming efforts and incorporated lessons learned to ensure broad stakeholder representation and alignment with the hospital’s mission.
Looking Ahead
Minister Carroll MacNeill also referenced the recent opening of the Dr. Kathleen Lynn Cataract Unit at the Royal Victoria Eye and Ear Hospital, indicating that plans are underway to honour Dr. Lynn’s legacy further within NCHI.
The National Children’s Hospital Ireland is poised to play a transformative role in the delivery of paediatric healthcare, research, and education in Ireland, placing children and families at the heart of its design and services.
New children’s hospital, Dublin Picture by newchildrenshospital.ie
