Frank Feighan (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank all the Deputies who contributed to today's discussion, in particular the Bill's sponsors, Deputies Berry and Tóibín. The Minister, Deputy Stephen Donnelly, and I acknowledge the spirit and intent of the Bill in seeking to ease the financial burden on those attending hospital. It is important to acknowledge that hospitals are already aware of the financial implications of parking costs, and do have various concessionary arrangements in place. Separate to reviewing and improving on these arrangements as needed, it is essential to ensure the current arrangements are clear and readily communicated to all.

The Government is more than aware that hospital car parking charges may represent an additional financial burden at a difficult time for people, and that this can simply add to the anxiety and stress of hospital visits and admissions. We have heard that patients and their advocates consider that parking services in some hospitals are inflexible and not patient-centred and we know that there are some groups of patients who are much more affected by this issue, people who have to attend regularly for the treatment of chronic conditions, as Deputy Tóibín rightly pointed out, such as cancer patients and patients undergoing dialysis, for example. That is why the Programme for Government, Our Shared Future, agreed in 2020, explicitly addresses this issue. To restate our commitment, it is to introduce a maximum daily car parking charge for patients and visitors at all hospitals, where possible, and to introduce flexible passes in all public hospitals for patients and families. We are moving to implement that commitment. In considering how best to do that, we will strive to take account of all users but in particular those who are most affected. Deputy Tóibín outlined the cost to cancer patients.

A lot of people will take another way out. Nobody wants to pay car parking charges. I do not want to pay them myself. I grew up in a town and a county that does not have car parking charges. In Roscommon hospital there are no car parking charges. It is difficult. Irish Rail has car parking charges at certain stations and people will just go up the line to another town where there are no charges. We see the same thing in Maynooth, Hazelhatch and places like that as the Acting Chairman will know. There are issues there.

It was stated here that about €17 million was generated. I am not sure if that was profit or money generated. I would think by the time one pays the various attendance and all the hospital charges, I am not sure if it is really value for money. That is only my view. In Sligo hospital I think the charge is €3 up to four hours and €6 for between five and 24 hours. It is not uncommon and I have done it myself that if I get a 12 or 24-hour ticket but leave the car park after two or three hours, if I see somebody coming in I might wind down the window and give them the ticket so they can save €6. It is in the spirit and I do not think it is breaking the law. We do not like to see other people paying car parking charges. That is just my opinion. Deputy Ó Snodaigh rightly said that this is not a political issue. There are practical solutions. Deputies Cullinane and Tóibín said that the issues are not insurmountable. Technology will play a huge role. We have to look at all the options from a climate change perspective. Sometimes if something is free, it can be abused. We need to look at that.

I believe there are limitations to this Bill, as I have outlined earlier, but I am happy to reiterate that the Minister acknowledges the spirit and intent of the Bill in seeking to ease the financial burden on those attending hospital. This is a goal that we all share and that is reflected directly in the programme for Government. The Minister does not intend to oppose the Bill on Second Stage. I thank Deputies Tóibín and Berry for bringing in the Bill which I fully support. I hope we will be able to work together to get practical solutions on car parking charges.

It was an own goal in St. James's Hospital when it reduced the free parking time from 20 minutes to ten minutes. I think it was wrong. When people are in the hospital they have to keep track of how long they are parked, if they are there three hours, if they need to send somebody out again. Deputy Ó Snodaigh's father's car was clamped. It is a barrier to people attending hospitals. I think we can work together to reduce or get rid of the charges.

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