Marc MacSharry (Sligo-Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Minister of State, Deputy McEntee for being here. I appreciate that it is not directly under her remit.

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Ceann Comhairle)
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The Minister of State taking the matter is Deputy Finian McGrath.

Finian McGrath (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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It is me.

Marc MacSharry (Sligo-Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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I apologise.

Finian McGrath (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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I am representing the Minister, Deputy Harris.

Marc MacSharry (Sligo-Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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No offence was intended to anybody. I am sorry the Minister, Deputy Harris, is not present but I will take the Minister of State's good self. I am happy to have him. I raise the issue of parking throughout the country. The Irish Cancer Society and other representative organisations, including those representing persons with disabilities in which the Minister of State has a personal interest, have been lobbying for reduced or waived parking charges at hospitals, in particular for outpatient appointments. We are speaking here about people who are at a very vulnerable stage in their lives as they fight serious illness, in particular cancer. The Irish Cancer Society has been mounting a campaign for almost two years to have some uniformity nationally in our hospital network where cancer treatment is provided in order that patients do not have the added worry of parking charges. The additional cost of suffering from cancer has been found by the society to be anywhere between €862 and €1,200 per month. Parking charges for regular outpatient appointments certainly contribute to that.

I am sure this has been the subject of many parliamentary questions, and certainly questions in all the local authority areas throughout the country. In Sligo last week, my colleague, Councillor Tom MacSharry, tabled a motion on this topic calling for free parking throughout the hospital network for cancer patients.

It has been reported that the annual income from car parking charges in the hospital network is €13 million. People are not going to hospital for a day out and they are not going to meet somebody for coffee. They are going there because they are under the weather. They may have a serious illness, such as cancer, and are going in for outpatient treatment. There may be less serious conditions whereby, equally, people are going for treatment. All of these people, or, in the case of children, their families, have contributed in taxation through the years to the annual HSE budget, which amounts to €14.5 billion this year. The budget increase on last year is €608 million. If one just took 2% of that 608 million, one would have the €13 million in car parking charges.

Where people visit hospitals on a one-off basis, for example, to visit somebody who is having a baby, it is reasonable that there would be charges. However, anybody who is seriously ill, not only people with cancer but also those with a wide range of life-limiting conditions and long-term illnesses that require regular visits and regular treatment, should be provided with parking discs. While certain hospitals - Tullamore, St. Luke's, Letterkenny, Mayo, Portiuncula, University Hospital Limerick, Kilkenny, Wexford, Kerry and Connolly - have free parking, others, including Sligo University Hospital in my constituency, do not have any arrangements. It is simply untenable that, for example, Connolly Hospital here in Dublin does not apply parking charges in respect of cancer patients whereas just a few miles down the road at the Mater Hospital, people are expected to pay €15. In the overall scheme of a budget that is closer to €15 billion than to any other number, is €13 million, or perhaps half that amount, all that necessary when one considers the level of compassion we ought to be showing to patients with long-term illnesses such as cancer, those with disabilities and others?

It has been announced that the HSE has been asked to review the position in order that we can come up with uniform guidelines nationally. Can the Minister of State provide a timeframe for that? When will it happen? Has it been kicked out by the HSE to one of those big firms between the two canals here in Dublin that will get a couple of hundred grand to do it? Can the Minister of State outline the position?

Finian McGrath (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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I thank Deputy MacSharry for raising this issue and for giving me the opportunity to respond on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Harris, who, incidentally, apologises for not being present as he is still at the Cabinet meeting.

Last week, the Minister requested that the HSE carry out a review of car parking charges at all hospitals with the aim of establishing clear national guidelines in this area for the first time. We all welcome that. While recognising that hospitals are cognisant of the impact of parking charges on patients, particularly those with long-term illnesses, and that revenue from parking charges is, by and large, applied for the provision of services, the Minister is nevertheless concerned to ensure that a national approach is applied. He has asked the HSE, in conducting the review, to take into account the existing parking arrangements at each hospital, the financial impact on patients and families and data on the income generated by these charges.

While the Minister fully recognises the relevance of this issue in the context of the needs of cancer patients, inpatients as well as outpatients, there are many patients who have other long-term illnesses and who also require regular hospital visits. The Minister has asked the HSE, in conducting its review, to engage with the Irish Cancer Society and other patient advocacy groups in order to ensure that the circumstances of all patients, particularly those who require long-term care, are taken into account - Deputy MacSharry also mentioned those with disabilities in this regard. It is appropriate to await the findings of this review in order that any national guidelines will take into account the parking needs of all patients with long-term illnesses, including arrangements for outpatient cancer treatment appointments.

Marc MacSharry (Sligo-Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Minister of State for the response. Like so many reviews, this one is on the never-never. When will it take place? When will it be finished? What will be the outcome? Let us put a deadline on it. At the end of the day, it is not rocket science. I ask that it be, as the Minister of State correctly stated in his reply, not specifically for cancer patients, although I would prioritise them.

The overall income nationally from hospital car parking charges is €13 million. In isolation, that is a great deal of money. In the context of the overall health budget, however, and taking cognisance of why people use the health service, can we show appropriate compassion for as many groups as possible and waive parking charges all over the country for them, and can we let those who make one-off visits to hospitals pay a contribution in the normal way?

I thank the Minister of State for his response but I hope that he will be able to give me an indication of the timeframe. This is not something that we are happy to leave on the never-never.

Finian McGrath (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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I acknowledge the points raised by Deputy MacSharry in respect of this particular issue. It is important that we focus on the core issue of the priorities for patients and bring the concept of compassion into the debate. I will bring the Deputy's concerns to the Minister because the issues he raises are important.

The Minister and I are committed to meeting the needs of cancer patients through the implementation of the National Cancer Strategy 2017-2026, which was launched last year. We are focused on preventing cancer, early diagnosis, the provision of quality treatment and the health and well-being of those living beyond cancer.

The HSE advises that 40 hospital car parks are owned and operated by hospitals, ten of which do not charge for parking. Five hospitals do not have car parks. The HSE advises that four hospital car parks are owned and operated by private companies. These are located at: St. Michael's; Sligo University Hospital; South Tipperary General Hospital; and Cork University Hospital. An example of good practice in this issue is Our Lady of Lourdes, Drogheda, where patients attending for certain cancer treatments at the oncology unit are afforded reduced rates of car parking. I believe parking is free for oncology patients at Mayo General Hospital and at Portiuncula Hospital. There are examples of hospitals adapting to the needs of their patients.

The review of hospital parking charges has already begun and the Minister looks forward to receiving the report on it. I am not familiar with the timescale for the review but we will definitely come back to the Deputy with an answer on that. The review will facilitate the development of national guidelines for hospital parking charges cognisant of the situations of various patient groups, including cancer patients.