Revenue from hospital car parks has more than doubled since 2020, HSE figures show 

Nationally, €8.1m was spent on parking fees in 2020, €7.3m in 2021, €10.6m in 2022, €13.4m in 2023, and €16.1m in 2024, according to the HSE. File picture

Revenue generated by parking fees at hospitals has more than doubled since 2020, with a record €17.7m spent on parking last year, according to the HSE.

A detailed breakdown provided by the HSE has revealed that the amount spent by people on car parking charges at public and voluntary hospitals has increased by almost 120% in a five-year period.

This increase comes despite a commitment made in the Programme for Government 2025 to "explore further ways to reduce hospital car parking charges".

Nationally, €8.1m was spent on parking fees in 2020, €7.3m in 2021, €10.6m in 2022, €13.4m in 2023, and €16.1m in 2024.

The hospital with the highest revenue was Cork University Hospital (CUH), with a combined spend of €11.9m over 5 years.

However, according to the HSE, CUH's revenue includes staff parking charges deducted through payroll, representing around €100,000 per year.

Other hospitals with notably high amounts include €8.8m spent at St James’s Hospital Dublin, €5.95m at Beaumont Hospital Dublin, €5.91m at University Hospital Limerick, €5.4m at University Hospital Galway, and €5.1m at Waterford Regional Hospital.

In 2025, CUH continued to generate the highest amount of revenue from parking fees, with €2.7m made, representing an average daily spend of €7,397.26.

Elsewhere in Cork, money generated from parking fees at South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital (SIVUH) also saw a significant increase within this five-year period, jumping from €118,452 made in 2020 to €384,033 made in 2025.

Sinn Féin Cork East TD Pat Buckley said hospital car parking charges are “a charge on being sick and visiting families and friends in hospital”. “No one chooses to be sick or to have a sick child in hospital,” said Mr Buckley.

“Yet patients and families [across Ireland] are being asked to pay these charges again and again.

“People with disabilities, carers, and families visiting loved ones in hospital are also being hit.

“The amount being raised through hospital parking has increased dramatically,” he added.

“Hospitals should not have to depend on money collected from sick people and their families. We need a funded plan to phase these charges out.

“The Government should provide replacement funding as charges are phased out, while ensuring hospital parking remains available for patients and visitors.”