Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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601. To ask the Minister for Health the Health Service Executive's policy relating to the operation of car parks within hospital grounds; the amount of revenue collected in respect of those car parks around the country; his views on the charges customers have to pay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23882/16]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Parking charges form part of a series of measures which ensure that the operational costs of providing parking services do not impact negatively on a hospital's overall budget. The HSE have advised me that total revenue collected from all of the hospital car parks (car parking fees and clamping) for 2015 was €16,020,354.

Some hospitals do not provide a public car park or do not charge a parking fee.I am advised by the HSE that, of the hospitals that do charge parking fees, some 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.

I am aware that those hospitals which charge parking fees are very cognisant of the financial implications of parking costs for patients and their families. Consequently hospitals have introduced a maximum daily fixed parking charge, thus capping this expense.

While there is no national HSE policy governing car park charges, the HSE advises me that it keeps hospital parking charges under review.