National Maternity Hospital construction in Dublin, Ireland, is expected to begin in early 2027 following government approval of the €1.86 billion healthcare development. The project will deliver a seven-storey specialist hospital at St Vincent’s University Hospital campus in Elm Park, Dublin 4, with completion targeted for 2033.
The development represents a major investment in maternity care, neonatal services and women’s reproductive healthcare. It will replace the existing National Maternity Hospital facilities at Holles Street with modern clinical infrastructure designed to accommodate growing healthcare needs.
The Irish government approved the project on October 20, 2026, allowing the Health Service Executive (HSE) to advance the main construction contracts. John Sisk & Son will serve as the main contractor, while Designer Group will handle specialist mechanical and electrical works. The decision follows more than a decade of planning to relocate the hospital and integrate its services with an existing acute hospital campus.
National Maternity Hospital construction advances towards delivery
The planned hospital will cover approximately 54,000 square metres and accommodate 244 beds in single-occupancy rooms with ensuite facilities. Its clinical infrastructure will include five operating theatres and 24 birthing rooms, supporting a projected capacity of 10,000 births annually. The design will also provide facilities for neonatal care, gynaecology, fertility services and other specialist women’s health services.
Furthermore, the new facility will strengthen links between maternity services and the wider hospital campus. Direct access between the maternity hospital’s theatres and high-dependency unit and St Vincent’s existing theatres and intensive care facilities will support coordinated clinical care. The design also incorporates training and education spaces for healthcare professionals, alongside facilities for specialist consultations and reproductive health services.
Professor Jennifer Walsh, master of the National Maternity Hospital, welcomed the approval as an important step for women and babies. She said the new facility would provide modern clinical environments while improving patients’ privacy, space and dignity. In addition to childbirth services, the hospital will support women across different stages of reproductive and gynaecological healthcare.
Similarly, the planned development follows wider investment in specialist healthcare infrastructure, including the Cambridge Cancer Research Hospital construction project, which will bring cancer treatment and research facilities together.
National Maternity Hospital construction follows extensive enabling works
Preparatory construction has already taken place across the Elm Park campus to accommodate the main hospital development. These works include upgrades to electrical and mechanical energy infrastructure, road junction improvements, a wider ambulance entrance and facilities for relocating existing hospital services. Other enabling projects have involved accommodation for medical records, kitchen operations, staff facilities and a neurology inpatient ward.
Meanwhile, the government approval marks a critical transition from preparation and procurement towards the principal building contract. The HSE’s procurement process has involved contractor evaluation and development of the business case to establish the project’s approved budget and delivery arrangements. The latest announcement identifies the main contractor and specialist mechanical and electrical contractor, clearing the way for construction to advance.
The project’s financial scale has increased considerably since the original 2013 estimate of approximately €150 million. The current €1.86 billion budget is more than ten times that initial estimate, reflecting the scale and complexity of the hospital development. The project is expected to reach completion in 2033, although delivery will depend on construction progress and implementation of the approved program.
Once completed, the new hospital will expand specialist maternity capacity while providing integrated services within Dublin’s existing hospital network. Its 244 beds, dedicated birthing rooms and operating theatres will support a comprehensive model of maternity and women’s healthcare. The development is intended to deliver modern clinical facilities for patients, families and healthcare professionals for decades to come.
Project Fact Sheet
Name: New National Maternity Hospital.
Type: Specialist maternity hospital and women’s healthcare infrastructure development.
Location: St Vincent’s University Hospital campus, Elm Park, Dublin 4, Ireland.
Value: €1.86 billion
Construction start: Expected early 2027.
Expected completion: 2033.
Building configuration: Seven-storey hospital building.
Gross floor area: Approximately 54,000 square meters.
Bed capacity: 244 beds, with single-occupancy ensuite rooms.
Birthing facilities: 24 birthing rooms.
Operating theatres: Five.
Annual maternity capacity: Approximately 10,000 births.
Main development scope: Maternity care, neonatal services, gynaecology, reproductive healthcare, fertility services, operating theatres and specialist clinical facilities.
Campus integration: Direct clinical connections with St Vincent’s University Hospital’s existing theatres and intensive care facilities.
Enabling works: Campus infrastructure upgrades, access improvements, service relocations and supporting hospital buildings.
Delivery status: Government approval secured on October 20, 2026, with main construction expected to begin in early 2027.
Project Team
Government of Ireland: Provides government approval and oversight of the public investment and infrastructure delivery process.
Department of Health: Leads health-sector policy and oversees the government’s investment in the hospital development.
Health Service Executive (HSE): Responsible for progressing procurement, contractual arrangements and delivery of the public healthcare infrastructure project.
Main contractor: John Sisk & Son
Reserved specialist contractor: Designer Group
Intended clinical operator: National Maternity Hospital
Host hospital and campus partner: St Vincent’s University Hospital
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