The Health Service Executive (HSE) has directed hospitals and healthcare facilities to immediately suspend parking charges for staff for the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The HSE CEO Paul Reid said: "I have been overwhelmed by the dedication, support and professionalism of all our staff in helping to contain the COVID-19 outbreak to date.

"As we face in to a very difficult period it is only right that we make every effort to ensure that staff are supported in their work.

"Therefore I have directed today that all hospitals and healthcare facilities suspend parking charges for staff for the duration of the COVID-19 crisis, as a small mark of our gratitude for their efforts."

This follows similar requests to clampers, who have been asked to use "discretion" around hospital parking.

Dublin City Council has said this should also apply to the Department of Health and Health Service Executive (HSE) offices.

Separately, clampers have stopped monitoring hundreds of car parks around the country.

Euro Car Parks said most of the 200 car parks it manages are now empty as more and more people stop working.