Billion Dollar Baby: Inside Ireland’s costliest build
Summary
Paul Cullen discusses his book, *Billion Dollar Baby*, tracing the National Children’s Hospital’s journey from a €650 million plan to a €2.2 billion overrun. The episode covers the decades-long rivalry between Dublin’s pediatric hospitals, the failed Mater site proposal, and the costly decision to build at St. James’s. Cullen critiques the complex design, early construction start, and procurement failures, arguing that the project’s mismanagement highlights systemic issues in Irish public infrastructure.
Topics discussed
Intro and ad for Irish construction jobs
Cost overrun: From 650m to 2.2bn euros
Guest intro: Paul Cullen and his book
History: The state of old children's hospitals
The 1993 push for a single national hospital
Institutional rivalry: Celtic vs Rangers dynamic
Political maneuvering and the HSE's role
Site selection: Why Mater and James's were chosen
Debate on co-location with adult vs maternity
The failed Mater design and planning rejection
St. James's site challenges and hidden costs
Missed opportunity for a maternity hospital
Critique of the extravagant curved design
Blame game: Is BAM the culprit?
Procurement failures and construction inflation
Lessons for future mega-projects like the Metro
Bed capacity and quality of care improvements
Comparison with the new maternity hospital
Access, parking, and transport concerns
Consultant accountability and location debate
Listener comments on management and design
Conclusion and book promotion
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