The health watchdog says it has found high risk infrastructural and design issues at the Coombe Hospital.
It's planned that the maternity and Women's facility will move to the site of the new children's hospital at St James' in the inner city - once its built - however it remains operational in its current home for the time being.
HIQA says its operating department does not meet either basic - or its own international best standards.
In a new report released today the Health Watchdog has also praised Crumlin Children's hospital for exceeding the HSE national target of 90 per cent for hand hygiene compliance.
In a statement, The Coombe said it "accepts the conclusions reached by HIQA", but argues the "risks in respect of operating theatre infrastructure cannot be addressed without major capital investment".
The hospital says patient safety is central to it, and that it has raised concerns about "essential upgrading of the Theatre Department" with the HSE on an ongoing basis.
Both the Coombe and Crumlin hospitals are moving to the St. James’ campus but the Connolly for Kids campaign’s calling on officials to build the new Children’s Hospital in Blanchardstown.
Around 50 parents and children have held a protest outside Health Minister Simon Harris’ constituency office in Bray earlier.
Dr. Roisin Healy is a former Consultant pediatrician at Crumlin, she says the James’ site won’t have the space to grow in the future, and favours building it at Connolly, where she says "There is plenty of space there to put a hospital for the 21st and 22nd century... where a helicopter can have proper access".
The group are also calling on the Health Minister to meet with them and listen to their concerns about the location of the new hospital and the effect it will have on sick children.
