Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 24 November 2016
193. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Health his plans to solve the parking issues that will occur if the plans for the site for the new children's hospital goes ahead at the St. James's site; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36704/16]
View answerAs approved by an Bord Pleanála, the plans for the new children's hospital provide for 1,000 car parking spaces, of which 675 will be dedicated for use by families, three times the number currently available at the three Dublin children's hospitals combined. Parents will be able to reserve their space ahead of arriving at the hospital.
The National Paediatric Hospital Development Board (NPHDB), the statutory body responsible for planning, designing, building and equipping the new children's hospital has confirmed that this level of parking provision will facilitate 100% car parking provision for inpatient, daycase and emergency attendances, and 65 car parking provision for outpatient attendances. The car parking stock and appointment schedules will be actively managed to ensure that all patients wishing to avail of parking will be facilitated. In addition, a condition of the planning permission granted by An Bord Pleanála is that a minimum of 20 spaces be marked and designated as 'parent and child' spaces and reserved for parents of children with specific needs (equipment etc.) and there will also be 27 specific car parking spaces provided for emergency drop-off parking.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy
