Parking fee revenue at hospitals doubles over four years
Revenue generated by parking fees at public hospitals has more than doubled over a four-year period.
Parking fee revenue at Irish public hospitals has more than doubled over a four-year period, according to figures released by the Health Service Executive (HSE). In 2025, Irish people spent a record €17.76 million on car park charges at public and voluntary hospitals, compared to €7.39 million in 2021 – a 140% increase. Despite the Programme for Government's commitment to explore ways to reduce hospital car parking charges, annual revenues from parking fees have risen each year since 2021, going from €10.61 million in 2022 to €16.18 million in 2024.
Cork University Hospital recorded the largest increase in annual yield from parking fees, with an extra €1.37 million in 2025 compared to 2024. The six hospitals with the most significant increases account for over half of the overall €10.37 million increase between 2021 and 2025. The HSE attributes the revenue rise to the return to normal activity since the Covid-19 pandemic, while opposition politicians and patient advocates argue that reform of the system is overdue, as these charges disproportionately affect patients, families, and those with disabilities.
Written by urgent.news from RTE News's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
