Some €78 million was collected in car parking charges in hospitals over five years and a record €17.5 million was collected last year. In 2018, Simon Harris was so concerned about hospital car parking charges that he promised a review and that action would be taken. Here we are in 2026 and no action was taken. In fact, hospital car parking charges have increased. The programme for Government gave a commitment to examine again reducing the cost of car parking charges at hospitals but it simply has not happened. We have seen them go up and up. It varies from hospital to hospital and site to site. Where is the programme for Government? Why is it taking so long for any action to be taken? Patients who have recurrence and repeat appointments and people who visit sick people in hospitals are paying more and more. It is not fair. It is an out-of-pocket expense on people being sick and the Government simply has to do more.

Sentiment score: -0.14