The Minister for Health is being urged to "show leadership" after concerns were raised over the development of the National Children's Hospital in Dublin.

According to Sinn Fein, the hospital board and the contractor are now "openly at war" and the costs are rising.

The party's spokesperson on Health David Cullinane TD described the latest revelations a "fiasco".

Teachta Cullinane said: "There is no certainty about a final cost or a final completion date. It is a fiasco.

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"In 2019, Stephen Donnelly branded the increase in costs associated with construction a 'scandal'. At that time, the projected cost had increased to €1 billion. We are now at €2 billion and counting.

"Yet, under his leadership nothing has changed.

"Every timeframe we have been given has come and gone, and all we can see - all taxpayers can see - is more cheques being written, more money being spent, more delays and more cost overruns.

"We need a real completion date, we need a real timeframe and we need to do everything possible to ensure this project is brought back on track.

"There is a responsibility on the Minister for Health to get off the sidelines and show leadership, knock heads together and ensure the board and BAM are doing everything possible to make sure this project comes in on time."