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Labour backs abolition of hospital car parking charges

TD Mark Wall said the current system means hospitals are “penalising people who are sick”, as well as their staff who drive.  
James Wilson
James Wilson

09.19 8 Jul 2025


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Labour backs abolition of hosp...

Labour backs abolition of hospital car parking charges

James Wilson
James Wilson

09.19 8 Jul 2025


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The Labour Party has called for the abolition of hospital car parking charges, describing it as “not acceptable” for hospitals to rake in millions of profit from patients who drive. 

On Newstalk Breakfast, Labour spokesperson for social protection Mark Wall said the current system means hospitals are “penalising people who are sick”, as well as their staff who drive.  

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“So, I believe that we shouldn’t be doing that,” he said. 

“I believe that the €19 million should be subsidised by the Government if hospitals need it. 

“These figures are only increasing; we’ve had this chat for almost 10 years now - the Irish Cancer Society have had a campaign going for almost 10 years. 

“We see some hospitals have reduced charges, then we have other hospitals that don’t.” 

Cancer patient paying €150 per month in hospital car park charges A hospital car park. Image: PA Images / Alamy Stock Photo

The Kildare South TD added that the status quo is “simply not good enough”, given how many people are struggling with the high cost of living.  

“We’re in the middle of a housing emergency,” he said. 

“So, many of the people that I know have to travel large distances; there’s a lack of availability of public transport. 

“So, their only option is to bring a car and this is something the INMO have said as well. 

“That people are travelling large distances to get to work, they have to park their car, they have to park their car close to the hospital. 

“They’re working unsociable hours and they’re actually being charged for this - which I think is wrong.” 

Deputy Wall continued that there is a “total lack of consistency” across the country, with car parking charges varying from hospital to hospital. 

“I’ve been contacted by patients who tell me that they have reduced fees when they’re going for treatment,” he said. 

“But when they’re going to appointments, they have to pay full parking charges. 

“It’s not acceptable; I’ve had ladies coming to me that they’re paying €25 a day in certain Dublin hospitals.” 

'Not acceptable'

Deputy Wall added that while it was reasonable to charge enough to cover the maintenance of the car park, the current profit margins are excessive. 

“We’re asking for a reduction, for an abolition if it’s possible,” he said. 

“If the hospital needs [the money] for the upkeep of the carpark, I think that’s acceptable. 

“But it’s not acceptable that we seven hospitals in this country are gaining over €1 million in carparking charges on the back of people who are sick and on the back of their frontline staff who they need to run their hospitals.” 

In the Programme for Government, Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael vowed to “explore further ways to reduce hospital car parking charges.” 

However, when questioned about the issue in April, Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill noted that car parking revenue is “used for a range of purposes”, including the subsidy of hospital care and research. 

She added that any reduction should not mean that funds are “diverted from the general hospital budget for essential services.”

Main image: A hospital car park. Picture by: Kumar Sriskandan / Alamy


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