Catherine Byrne (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

As the Senator can see, I am not the Minister, Deputy Harris. I am here on his behalf since he could not be here. Over the past decade, parking charges have introduced into many hospitals. It is important to note that these parking charges are part of the series of measures which ensure the operational cost of providing parking services does not cause an adverse impact on their budget. As demand for parking services at hospitals increases, so too does the associated cost of providing these services such as initial capital cost of purchasing or renting parking areas, the cost of developing extra parking spaces, the need to provide and upgrade security schemes in hospital car parks, staffing and general maintenance of the parking services. The cost of providing these services needs to be recouped, and I am sure that we will all agree that the cost of providing these services to visitors, staff and patients does not impact on the hospital's budget to provide health care services to patients.

The Health Service Executive, HSE, has advised that it does not have a single contract to provide parking services at all hospitals. Instead each hospital has a unique arrangement which reflects its specific circumstances. For example, Temple Street Children's University Hospital, the National Maternity Hospital and Mercy University Hospital in Cork do not provide public car parking spaces. Further, some hospitals such as St. Luke's Hospital in Rathgar, Merlin Park University Hospital in Galway and Mallow General Hospital do not have a charge for parking a car. They have free parking. The HSE advises that a number of hospitals use parking revenue solely for maintenance and reinvestment in parking facilities, including payment of loans obtained for upgrading such facilities and investing in security. The remainder of hospitals use parking revenue to cover the cost of parking services, with any additional income contributing to the general hospital budget or to fund research or specific patient facilities.

The Minister, Deputy Harris, is aware that those hospitals which charge parking fees are very conscious of the financial impact of parking costs on patients and their families, particularly those with long-term illness. Consequently, the hospitals have introduced a maximum daily fixed parking charge and thus have capped these expenses. While there is no national HSE policy covering car parking charges, the executive advises the Minister that it keeps hospital parking charges under review.

We must take into account public transport services when considering further development of the hospital system. This is evidenced by planning and development, and support for the expansion of public transport facilities, especially for the new national children's hospital. We continue to provide more transport choices to the public when visiting their loved ones in hospitals.