Sinn Féin TD for Wicklow and Chair of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), John Brady, has described as ‘absolutely scandalous’ the revelation that over €73 million has been collected in hospital car parking charges between 2020 and 2025.
Deputy Brady said the information provided to PAC exposes the scale of the financial burden being placed on patients and families across the state, particularly those who must attend hospital regularly, and highlights the government’s continued failure to act on a long-standing issue.
The figures also show a significant increase in recent years – €8.1 million was collected in 2020, €7.4 million in 2021, €10.6 million in 2022, €13.4 million in 2023, €16.2 million in 2024, and €17.8 million in 2025.
Teachta Brady said:
“I was absolutely taken aback when I saw the figures that over €73 million has been taken in through hospital parking charges in recent years.
“This is money being taken directly out of the pockets of patients and their families at a time when people are already struggling through a deep cost of living crisis.
“This in effect amounts to a stealth tax.
“This is not confined to any one hospital, this is an issue affecting people in every county who rely on our health services.
“Patients attending appointments, often for serious and long-term conditions, are being hit again and again with charges simply for accessing the care they need.
“It is particularly impacting those undergoing cancer treatment and others who must attend hospital on a frequent basis. These costs quickly add up and place a very real financial strain on individuals and families.
“These figures also come at a time when we see several hospitals highlighting massive funding shortfalls of tens of millions.
“This points to the systemic problem with how hospitals are funded – with hospital parking charges seen as a source of revenue to plug gaps.
“It’s even more remarkable when you consider that as far back as 2018, the then Minister for Health Simon Harris took on the issue of hospital parking charges and ordered a national review.
“A commitment was also made in the most recent Programme for Government to explore ways to reduce these charges, yet years later patients are still waiting and the burden is getting worse.
“The Minister for Health must now act without further delay to bring about reductions in hospital parking charges.
“Sinn Féin has consistently provided for reducing and capping these charges in our Alternative Budget.
“We are committed to delivering a workable solution that will ultimately abolish parking charges for patients and ensure that access to healthcare is not determined by a person’s ability to pay for parking.”
ENDS