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27/03/2024
Health Minister To Seek Deferral Of All Hospital Parking Charges
Health Minister, Robin Swann, has announced that he will seek a deferral to legislation to remove all hospital parking charges from 12 May, 2024.
Minister Swann said that he will ask the Assembly to defer the measure for a two year period.
While the total removal of all charges would be deferred, car parking permits for eligible staff would be provided free of charge across the two year period.
The Minister said: "The Hospital Parking Charges Act was passed by the Assembly in 2022 for the best of intentions. I was, and remain, entirely supportive of those intentions.
"However, there are logistical issues that make the planned May 2024 starting date for free parking unfeasible. HSC Trusts have advised that the infrastructure required to manage free parking cannot be in place in time. This is due to legal challenges delaying a contract for Automatic Number Plate Recognition technology. As a result, the intended traffic management solution will not be operational by 12th May. In its absence, Trusts would have significant concerns about their ability to maintain safe access to their sites for patients, clients, visitors and staff. Preserving blue light routes would be a particular concern.
"In addition, it is unfortunately the case that the financial position for our health service has deteriorated in the past two years. A blanket removal of all charges would result in loss of income, resulting in £10m in costs per year in total to control access and maintain carparks.
"My primary concern as Minister is to protect access to hospitals for legitimate users. Free parking without traffic management could very quickly lead to a free for all, with serious consequences for traffic not just in hospital sites but in surrounding areas."
The Assembly will be asked to agree to the deferral by accelerated passage, reflecting the looming starting date.
Health Minister concluded: "It is widely agreed that the current budgetary situation will require difficult decisions by the Executive and Assembly. Deferring the introduction of free hospital parking certainly falls into that category."
Minister Swann said that he will ask the Assembly to defer the measure for a two year period.
While the total removal of all charges would be deferred, car parking permits for eligible staff would be provided free of charge across the two year period.
The Minister said: "The Hospital Parking Charges Act was passed by the Assembly in 2022 for the best of intentions. I was, and remain, entirely supportive of those intentions.
"However, there are logistical issues that make the planned May 2024 starting date for free parking unfeasible. HSC Trusts have advised that the infrastructure required to manage free parking cannot be in place in time. This is due to legal challenges delaying a contract for Automatic Number Plate Recognition technology. As a result, the intended traffic management solution will not be operational by 12th May. In its absence, Trusts would have significant concerns about their ability to maintain safe access to their sites for patients, clients, visitors and staff. Preserving blue light routes would be a particular concern.
"In addition, it is unfortunately the case that the financial position for our health service has deteriorated in the past two years. A blanket removal of all charges would result in loss of income, resulting in £10m in costs per year in total to control access and maintain carparks.
"My primary concern as Minister is to protect access to hospitals for legitimate users. Free parking without traffic management could very quickly lead to a free for all, with serious consequences for traffic not just in hospital sites but in surrounding areas."
The Assembly will be asked to agree to the deferral by accelerated passage, reflecting the looming starting date.
Health Minister concluded: "It is widely agreed that the current budgetary situation will require difficult decisions by the Executive and Assembly. Deferring the introduction of free hospital parking certainly falls into that category."
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New Legislation Proposed To Abolish Hospital Car Parking Charges
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Sinn Féin have proposed new legislation to abolish hospital car parking charges to ease the burden on staff and visitors. West Belfast MLA Fra McCann is currently taking the bill to abolish charges through the Assembly where he expects to receive cross-party backing. He said: "Hospital car parking charges have always been an unfair tax on workers.
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Tickets Bonanza On Parking
A year after responsibility for parking fines moved from the police to the Department for Regional Development (DRD), more than 140,000 tickets for illegal parking have been issued. New statistics show that since parking enforcement moved from the PSNI last October, 143,564 parking tickets were issued by DRD-contracted National Car Parks wardens.
15 November 2023
Re-Introduction Of Hospital Car Parking Charges Under Consideration
The Department of Health has announced an eight-week public consultation on the option of re-introducing hospital car parking charges. The consultation follows a direction from the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Rt Hon Chris Heaton-Harris MP, requiring Northern Ireland departments to launch public consultations on revenue raising measures.
Re-Introduction Of Hospital Car Parking Charges Under Consideration
The Department of Health has announced an eight-week public consultation on the option of re-introducing hospital car parking charges. The consultation follows a direction from the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Rt Hon Chris Heaton-Harris MP, requiring Northern Ireland departments to launch public consultations on revenue raising measures.
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