Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Minister for Health, Deputy Simon Harris, apologises for his absence. I thank Senator Gallagher for raising this issue.

When an individual is given a diagnosis of cancer, they, along with their family, are going through a traumatic experience. It is incumbent on us to make that treatment as easy as possible. As the Senator said, it is important to recognise some hospitals have given a waiver for or put a cap on car parking charges. I thank Senator Gallagher for raising this issue and giving me the opportunity to update the House on the matter. In the past decade, parking charges have been introduced in many of our hospitals. It is important to note that these parking charges form part of a series of measures that ensure that the operational costs of providing parking services do not impact negatively on a hospital's overall budget.

As demand for parking services at our hospitals increases, so do the associated costs of providing these services, such as the initial capital cost of purchasing or renting parking areas, the cost of developing extra parking spaces, the need to provide and upgrade security systems in hospital car parks, and staffing and general maintenance of parking services.

I am advised by the HSE and the Minister that the HSE does not provide guidelines on hospital car parking and that each hospital or hospital group implements its own guidelines. For example and as the Senator is aware, Temple Street Children's University Hospital, the National Maternity Hospital and Mercy University Hospital in Cork do not provide public car parks. Some hospitals, such as St. Luke's in Rathgar, Merlin Park University Hospital in Galway and Mallow General Hospital, do not charge a car parking fee.

The HSE has advised that a number of hospitals use parking revenue solely for maintenance and re-investment in parking facilities, including repayment of loans obtained for upgrading such facilities and investment in security. The remainder of hospitals use parking revenue to cover the cost of parking services, with any additional income being used to contribute to the general hospital budget or to fund research or specific patient facilities.

Hospitals that charge parking fees are cognisant of the financial implications of parking costs for patients and their families, particularly those with long-term illnesses. Consequently, some hospitals have introduced a maximum daily fixed parking charge, thus capping this expense. Some hospitals provide reduced car parking fees for patients with cancer who are attending for long-term treatment. However, there are many conditions that can require long-term care and it is difficult to prioritise one over another. It is important to consider the clinical circumstances of all patients who require long-term care rather than those with one particular condition.

While there is no national HSE policy governing car park charges, the HSE has advised me that it keeps hospital parking charges under review. In terms of the future development of our hospital system, we must take account of public transport services. By supporting the expansion of public transport facilities, we continue to provide more transportation choices to the public when visiting their loved ones in our hospitals. This is one of the key reasons for the choosing of the site of the new children's hospital, in that it has access to various types of public transport and routes.

I cannot make a commitment on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Harris, to meet the organisation, but I can take that request to him and ask him to reply to the organisation directly.