Catherine Noone (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I rise to raise an issue that I raised a few weeks ago - hospital car parking for long-term illness patients who attend hospitals around the country. The Irish Cancer Society has released a report. I am disappointed to learn that its ongoing campaign to change hospital car parking pricing policies had little success this year. In my view, guidelines should cover all long-term illness patients, including cancer patients. Long-term illness patients and their families are under immense pressure during times of illness. They suffer physically, financially and emotionally day and night. We should listen to their needs and assist them where possible.

The NHS in the UK has issued guidelines to hospitals ordering that certain patients receive either concession or free car parking in order to reduce the pressure on patients during these times. A number of Irish hospitals already implement such a system and, therefore, it is doable. I again call on the Minister for Health to consider issuing a nationwide car parking price policy for hospitals, especially for long-term illness patients such as cancer patients.