Madam, - Parking charges at Dublin's main hospitals are causing considerable hardship for those on a fixed income, particularly the elderly, who make regular and lengthy visits to hospitals as day patients or as visitors.
The HSE is putting pressure on the hospitals to get the car parks to make a financial contribution to their running costs. The average hourly rate if you stay more than one hour at Beaumont, St James's, The Mater, St Vincent's or Tallaght hospitals is €2.40 and the average daily rate is €11.40.
Blanchardstown Hospital still has free parking, but it is under pressure to introduce parking charges to help the hospital stay within budget.
We know that some elderly people are struggling to pay these parking charges. We have had reports of some spending up to €50 a week on hospital parking. It is not good enough to say they should use public transport. Many come from outlying areas where the system is inadequate, and some are too frail to use public transport.
These charges are a form of "stealth tax" that hits the elderly hardest The HSE should be subsidising parking for those who are of pension age and beyond. It wouldn't cost a fortune, and it would show our senior citizens that we care. - Yours, etc,
DERMOT KIRWAN, Friends of the Elderly, Bolton Street, Dublin 1.