The Minister for Health must urgently address the issue of hospital parking charges, Sinn Féin has said. 

Reducing parking costs was promised in the 2020 Programme for Government, with initial recommendations suggesting that fees should be capped at €10 per day.

Reports emerged yesterday that the Government is to redo a review taken out into the issue in 2018, a move which has been criticised by the Irish Cancer Society.

Sinn Féin health spokesperson David Cullinane said some people cannot wait for another review to be completed.

“We have to do everything possible to reduce the cost of healthcare,” he said. 

“The commitment in the Programme for Government to reduce car parking charges or, at the very least, cap them is something that needs to be delivered. 

“So, we do need to hear from the Minister [regarding] what’s going to happen next.” 

A hospital car park, 7-11-13. Image: Kumar Sriskandan / Alamy

Deputy Cullinane added he would like to see the charges abolished eventually but the revenue they raise for the health service must be replaced by the Government. 

“It would have to be costed,” he said.  

“I know it would cost tens of millions of euro to abolish the charges, it would cost an awful lot less to cap them. 

“But whatever income is lost, would have to be replaced because we can’t have a reduction in funding for hospitals.” 

Last year, HSE CEO Bernard Gloster told staff the health service “faces a period where its funded level which, while quite high, is not adequate for all current costs”.

Main image: A car park.