Bill proposing three hours free parking for hospital visitors

Nearly €1.6m has been raised in in car parking charges at Our Lady’s Hospital, Navan since 2012 it has emerged.

In that period, hospital car parks across the country took have generated over €100m in receipts from on-site parking and clamping charges.

“The receipts for 2020 would have been higher, were it not for the suspension of non-Covid healthcare services for the majority of 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic and government policies," said Cllr Emer Toibin.

"On a human level, what percentage of those parking charges are from cancer patients and other patients with serious long-term illnesses?

“What percentage of those charges comes from seriously ill individuals struggling to meet the costs of their treatment already?

“The government should be doing more to alleviate unnecessary burdens such as car parking charges for patients, some of whom are fighting for their very lives. The very last thing on their mind shouldn’t be, 'can I afford parking whilst I receive treatment?'”

An Aontú Bill on the issue is proposing free parking for up to three hours in the carpark of a public hospital, where an occupant of the vehicle (either the driver or a passenger) is attending the hospital to receive out-patient services.

“We urge all TDs of other parties to support the Aontú Bill, and to help move the Bill through the Dáil as fast as possible.

“The Irish Cancer Society has also campaigned for a cut in hospital car parking charges. Paying car parking charges when you are attending out patients services or emergency services at your local hospital is an additional and unnecessary stress and pressure for many people to deal with.

“These charges are especially financially hard on patients such as cancer patients or patients who are critically ill who may have to return regularly for hospital treatment. This Bill offers immediate relief and support to those patients, it needs to be passed.”