Barry Heneghan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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331. To ask the Minister for Health whether she supports free car parking for patients attending hospital; whether the Government could provide the income that would be lost if this measure was implemented; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16512/25]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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Hospitals that charge car parking fees are very aware of the financial implications of those costs for patients and their families.

Consequently, the majority of hospitals have some form of exemption or concession in place, such as the option of flexible day passes or multi-trip entry passes for regular hospital attenders, or concessions based on the type of inpatient. Furthermore, all hospitals that charge for parking have a fixed maximum daily rate in place.

Hospital car parking revenue is used for a range of purposes. This might be maintenance and re-investment in parking facilities, including repayment of loans obtained for upgrading such facilities and investment in security. It may also be simply to cover the cost of parking provision more generally, with any additional income being used to contribute to the general hospital budget for provision of care or research. Any reduction in parking revenue, as a result of introducing free parking, would have to be met from another source. We must ensure that funds are not diverted from the general hospital budget for essential services.

The Programme for Government 2025 – Securing Ireland’s Future, makes a commitment to explore further ways to reduce hospital car parking charges. Accordingly, my Department and the HSE are currently examining the issue.