€3.5m collected in hospital car park charges

A SINN Féin TD has called for the abolition of hospital car park charges in Cork as the hospitals recorded car park income of almost €3.5m between January 2022 and October 2023.

Information obtained under the Freedom of Information Act revealed Cork University Hospital (CUH) took in more than €1.7m in charges in 2022, as well as €1.1m in the first 10 months of this year. 

Cork University Maternity Hospital took in around €28,000 in car park charges in 2022. However, this increased to €89,291 between January and October this year.

Meanwhile, South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital collected €265,000 in 2022 and €179,000 in the first 10 months of 2023 as a result of car park charges, excluding VAT.

Speaking to The Echo, Sinn Féin TD Thomas Gould said: “For many people, the exorbitant charges prevent them from visiting loved ones in hospital. 

"Alongside this, those who are attending hospital appointments are having to take account of these costs in their weekly budgets — people cannot be expected to cut costs to afford parking in hospitals.

“Sinn Féin believes in removing barriers to healthcare — from waiting lists to car parking charges — we believe that healthcare should be accessible for all. We have brought forward legislation in the north to scrap car parking fees in hospitals entirely and would work to begin ending these fees in the south in Government. 

"We understand that hospitals rely on this income and we would ensure to phase out the fees to avoid any negative impact on already under-resourced and overstretched hospital budgets.”

The South South West Hospital Group was contacted for comment.