Figures for James Connolly Hospital parking revealed

SEVEN hundred cars were clamped and almost

?¬740,000
was generated from controversial parking charges in Connolly Hospital last
year.

Parking charges at the Blanchardstown hospital have
been a major bone of contention among patients and visitors since they were
introduced in 2009.

The Health Service Executive recently revealed that
the total income from parking charges in 2011 was

?¬738,544.

The number of vehicles clamped by a private company in
2011 was 700, with 51 refunds on appeal.

The figures were released around the same time it was
revealed that hospitals could be banned from clamping cars parked in their
grounds under legislation recommended by an Oireachtas transport committee.

Minister for Transport Leo Varadkar (FG) will consider
the 38 recommendations on the regulation of public and private clamping, which
would mean that clamping companies will be subject to legal restrictions for
the first time.

A spokesperson for the HSE explained how a car park
management company is contracted to enforce the hospital’s parking regulations.

“They have an appeal procedure in place whereby the
clamping can be appealed, firstly to an appeals officer in that company and
then to an independent appeal officer,

? said the spokesperson.

“The hospital does not have any role in clamping or
returning release fees.

?

The HSE spokesperson insisted that assistance is given
to patients who are unable to attend to their vehicles while undergoing
treatment to ensure they are not charged further periods of parking.

“A pay by phone system is operated by the private
company and it allows drivers to pay or extend their parking by credit or debit
card via mobile phone. The calls are charged at local call rate.

?

Local councillor Kieran Dennison (FG) was surprised
the number of cars clamped in Connolly Hospital last year was so high.

“The parking charges payment system in Connolly is a
major issue for a lot of people who have to attend the hospital for treatment
or visit a loved one,

? he told Northside People.

“I understand that a consultant was among those
clamped in the hospital recently.

“I was in a situation myself where I was on crutches
and didn’t know whether I would need to hobble down the stairs again to top up
my parking ticket.

“Also, elderly people and those who are visiting
seriously ill people cannot be expected to have the expiry time of their
parking ticket at the forefront of their mind.

?

According to the local councillor, a simple solution
would be to change the parking in Connolly Hospital to a ticket system whereby
people can pay on exiting the hospital.