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The children’s hospital metric

Astronomical sums

Letters to the Editor. Illustration: Paul Scott
The Irish Times - Letters to the Editor.
Thu Jul 11 2024 - 00:12

Sir, – Prof John Sweeney equates the cost to the taxpayer of not curtailing our greenhouse gas emissions (€5 billion) to two children’s hospitals (“Failure to curtail our greenhouse gas emissions could cost us two children’s hospitals”, Opinion & Analysis, July 9th).

This is based on the absurdly inflated price (€2.2 billion) of the National Children’s Hospital.

A better comparator is Liverpool’s world-renowned Alder Hey Children’s Hospital (€279 million), meaning that climate delinquency will cost us the equivalent of 18 children’s hospitals. – Yours, etc,

Dr JOHN DOHERTY,

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Gaoth Dobhair,

Co Dhún na nGall.