Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I appreciate the opportunity to contribute to this debate. The removal of the €80 charge, particularly for people who are ill on a regular basis, and sadly there are people who fall into that category, is welcome. This charge was a burden on them because for people who are ill, every euro is very important. I welcome the abolition of charges like this, especially for people who are ill on a regular basis.

I also want to use this opportunity to talk about another cumbersome issue, that of car-parking charges. I appreciate that our hospitals have to charge money for parking. I appreciate that because if they did not, they would be used like a public, free carpark and we cannot allow that to happen. I am aware that in University Hospital Kerry, for instance, exemptions are made if a person is going through a journey of illness. If they are in the hospital for a period of time, they can apply to management for parking-charge exemptions. I want to see that being streamlined.

There is another thing I want the Minister to do, although the Green Party would not be too happy with this. When I think of University Hospital Kerry, I want to see someone come along and blow some of the grass that is being cut on a regular basis, and in our way, out of it and I want to see black tarmacadam being put down and additional car parking spaces being provided. I want to see lining put out so that more people who are coming to visit their relatives and families will be able to park nearer to the hospital and will not be sent to Van Diemen's Land out on the side of the road because the car park is full. We cannot park on top of grass. The Green Party talks about being prudent with the environment but it is not exactly environmentally friendly to be out with lawn mowers all of the time, cutting grass. We should do the same with the car park outside Leinster House. We should blow half of the grass out of it and provide additional car parking spaces.

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