Opposition to the site of the new National Children’s Hospital is mounting.

80% of the country’s County Councils have so far voted against the planned location on the grounds of St James’ Hospital in Dublin.

Building work is expected to be completed by the year 2020, at a cost of €650m.

But opponents have the new facility should be moved to a green field site off the M50 motorway in Blanchardstown.

Under the plans, the existing children’s hospitals in Crumlin, Temple Street and Tallaght will shut, with staff transferred to the new city centre location.

A maternity hospital will also be built on the same site – but retired pediatrician Dr Fin Breathnach has said it comes with many conditions attached: “They have to knock down the lovely outpatient department in James’s which is highly regarded.

“They actually have to build it someplace else because you can’t do without an outpatient department.

“You have to knock down their intensive care unit and build a new one.

“You have to build a new adult accident and emergency department and a new facility management hub, that is going to cost you about €200m.

“Then you can start building your maternity hospital, I mean , you couldn’t make it up.”