Deadlock in student nurses parking row
The students have been told they can no longer use swipe cards that gave them free access to the staff car park and must pay €10 a day for parking.
The Irish Nurses Organisation (INO) has threatened industrial action if the decision is not reversed.
INO industrial officer Michael Dineen said he was “absolutely appalled” at management’s action.
He said attendance at the hospital was essential for the students who are on placement at the hospital as part of their degree course at the Institute of Technology (IT) in Tralee. “I’m not aware of this happening anywhere else in the country,” he said.
The students affected are across four years of nursing at the IT.
The HSE has urged them to consider car pooling, or using public transport.
In a statement the HSE said hourly parking charges were introduced at the hospital, in 2004.
“Management at KGH appreciates the difficulty that car parking may pose for a number of students and we would encourage them to avail, where possible, of public transport, or car pooling options, as parking is at a premium and there is no alternative available parking,” it added.
Discussions have been held with hospital management on the issue, but a resolution has yet to be found, the HSE indicated yesterday.
