Hospital car parking charges have generated a staggering €73 million across Ireland over the past five years, with costs for patients and families continuing to climb despite political commitments to ease the burden.
New figures show that €17 million was collected from hospital parking fees in 2025 alone, representing a sharp rise compared to previous years. The total for 2025 is €10 million higher than in 2021, marking an increase of around 140 per cent over that period according to the Irish Independent.
The scale of the increase is likely to reignite concerns about the financial pressure placed on patients, particularly those requiring frequent hospital visits or long-term care. While hospital parking fees have long been criticised, they remain in place across most facilities nationwide.
Despite a commitment in the Programme for Government to “explore further ways” to reduce or ease these charges, little has changed on the ground. In most hospitals, motorists are still facing a maximum daily rate of €10, with some paying significant amounts over extended periods of treatment.
The issue has been a persistent source of frustration for patients and advocacy groups, who argue that accessing healthcare should not come with added financial strain.
For families attending hospitals regularly—whether for appointments, visiting loved ones, or ongoing treatment—the costs can quickly add up.
While the figures underline the growing reliance on parking revenue within the health system, they also highlight a widening gap between policy promises and reality.
For many across Ireland, hospital parking remains an unavoidable and increasingly expensive part of accessing care.
