Serious concerns have been raised regarding the way contracts for the engineering and design of the new €650 million Children's Hospital at the St James's Street site have been awarded.

The Mail on Sunday revealed there were question marks over the contract for architectural works, after it was given to the firm who submitted flawed plans for the original Mater site.

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Sinn Fein TD for Dublin South Central Aengus Ó Snodaigh is urging the Minister for Health and the National Paediatric Hospital Development Board (NFHDB) to explain the tendering process.

Deputy Ó Snodaigh said: "Once again there seems to be chaos, incompetence or worse in the public tendering process. Given the history of this project I find it incredible that simple procedural processes such as a public tendering seem to open to question.

"In order for this to be the case, the Minister must step in and ask the National Paediatric Hospital Development Board (NPHDB) to substantively address any criticisms and flaws that existed in the original tendering process for contracts and, if needs be, start the tendering process again."

(CD/MH)