John Brassil (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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389. To ask the Minister for Health if he will ask the HSE to make a concession for free parking for persons attending hospitals for ongoing cancer treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32240/17]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Over 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 which ensure that the operational costs of providing parking services to visitors, staff and patients do not impact negatively on a hospital’s overall budget needed to provide healthcare services to patients.

I am advised by the HSE that it does not provide guidelines on hospital car parking and that each hospital or hospital group implements their own guidelines. 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, 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 which can require long-term care and it is difficult to prioritise one over another.