Parking fee revenue at hospitals doubles over four years

Parking fee revenue at public hospitals in Ireland has more than doubled over the past four years, according to data released by the Health Service Executive (HSE). In 2025, patients and visitors contributed a record €17.76 million in parking charges, compared to €7.39 million in 2021, a 140% increase. The rise in income occurred despite a government pledge to explore reducing hospital parking charges. The trend of increasing revenue continued annually after 2021, growing from €10.61 million in 2022 to €13.46 million in 2023 and reaching €16.18 million in 2024. Since the start of 2020, public hospitals have collected a total of €73.5 million from parking fees. The surge in income reflects a broader pattern, with several major hospitals reporting substantial gains. Cork University Hospital led the growth in parking revenue, recording an increase of €1.37 million between 2021 and 2025. Its earnings rose from €1.35 million in 2024 to €2.72 million in 2025. A portion of this revenue includes charges for staff parking, which contribute approximately €100,000 annually. Other hospitals such as University Hospital Limerick, Tallaght University Hospital, St James’s Hospital, Waterford Regional Hospital, and Beaumont Hospital also showed among the largest increases. Together, these six hospitals accounted for nearly €5.59 million, more than half of the total €10.37 million increase in parking revenue between 2021 and 2025. The HSE attributed the rise in income to the return to normal levels of activity following the impact of the coronavirus pandemic. However, opposition politicians and patient advocacy groups argue that the system requires urgent reform. David Cullinane, a Sinn Féin health spokesperson, criticized the current system as “unfair and inconsistent.” He noted that there is no single national agreement on how parking services are managed, with each hospital operating under its own rules. Nationwide, 36 hospitals charge for parking, with a daily maximum of €10 or less in most cases. Only four hospitals exceed this limit, with St Vincent’s Hospital in Dublin charging up to €17 per day. Free parking is available at nine additional hospitals. Cullinane emphasized that the financial burden falls disproportionately on patients and their families. “No one chooses cancer, dialysis or a long hospital stay,” he stated. “These charges punish people for being sick. Parents visiting sick children, carers and people with disabilities are being hit again and again.” The Irish Cancer Society echoed similar concerns, calling for the abolition of parking charges for cancer patients. CEO Nikki Gallagher highlighted that some patients face monthly costs of up to €300 solely for accessing treatment. While some hospitals offer concessions, Gallagher argued that this creates an uneven system. She urged the government to take action and eliminate these charges for all cancer patients. University Hospital Limerick reported a particularly sharp increase, with parking charges rising from €446,787 in 2021 to €1.44 million in 2025, an increase of 221.8%. A hospital spokesperson acknowledged the growth but suggested it was due to a combination of factors, including higher patient and visitor traffic following the easing of pandemic restrictions.