Letterkenny University Hospital took in €113,433 from parking fees in 2024, it has been revealed.
The pay and display system, operated by Euro Carparks, spans across 1,100 car parking spaces on the hospital campus.
The 2024 income is down on the 2023 income of €132,882.
Parking charges at LUH range from more than €1 for short stays, €3 for four hours and €15 for weekly parking.
Income from the car park at LUH is spent on patient services and maintenance and re-investment in parking facilities.
A Saolta spokesperson previously told Donegal Daily: “As demand for parking services at LUH increases, so too do the associated costs such as capital costs; the cost of developing extra parking spaces; the need to provide and upgrade security systems in hospital car parks; staffing and general maintenance of parking services.”
More than 180,000 patients and visitors attend Letterkenny University Hospital annually. Some 2,500 staff members hold parking permits.
This year, between January and March 2025, the gross income reached €34,127.
Labour TD Mark Wall from Kildare says that the Government must move to abolish all parking charges for all public patients and healthcare staff in the forthcoming Budget.
Figures released to Deputy Wall show that some Irish hospitals netted more than €1million last year, with Cork University Hospital having the biggest takings with €2,334,183.
Deputy Wall said:“Millions are being collected every year from patients and their families at public hospitals across Ireland when they use parking facilities. Abolishing these is a measure previously recommended by the Irish Cancer Society. Figures revealed to me show an eye-watering amount of money taken in annually by our major hospitals for parking.
“It’s deeply unfair. So many people are already struggling to get the care they need and nobody is taking a day trip to a hospital. The thoughts of parking your car, most likely in a panic, only to come back to pay a massive parking ticket is just wrong.
“Healthcare staff like nurses and midwives who have worked long shifts may not have been able to access public transport and had to commute long distances with the only transport option being a car. This needs to be addressed.”
