Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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323. To ask the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to concerns that there may not be adequate affordable parking spaces for the families of children in the proposed new national children's hospital in the St. James's Hospital site; the way these concerns are being addressed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33407/16]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The campus at St. James’s hospital benefits from a full suite of transport options including private car, national rail, LUAS, bus, bicycle, pedestrian and taxi.

Notwithstanding the public transport accessibility of the site, the need of most parents to access the hospital by car is recognised, and ample parking has been provided for families based on current and projected future demand. 1,000 car parking spaces are being provided, with a minimum of 675 of these dedicated to family parking. This is based on an assessment of the level of parking demand, developed in consultation with the medical planning team. The National Paediatric Hospital Development Board (NPHDB), the statutory body responsible for planning, designing, building and equipping the new children's hospital has confirmed, that this level of parking provision will facilitate 100% car parking provision for inpatient, daycase and emergency attendances, and 65% car parking provision for outpatient attendances. The car parking stock and appointment schedules will be actively managed to ensure that all patients wishing to avail of parking will be facilitated. In addition, a condition of the planning permission granted by An Bord Pleanála is that a minimum of 20 spaces be marked and designated as “parent and child” spaces and reserved for parents of children with specific needs (equipment etc.).

In regard to parking costs, these will be considered in due course having regard to the needs of patients and families, including families of long-stay patients.