Councillor asks HSE to extend parking facilities at Letterkenny University Hospital
Sinn Féin Cllr Gerry McMonagle and Fianna Fáil’s Ciaran Brogan brought forward separate questions on parking spaces
A Letterkenny Councillor has urged the HSE to look at whether parking areas could be “levelled up” to provide extra capacity at Letterkenny University Hospital.
Sinn Féin Councillor Gerry McMonagle, chair of the Regional Health Forum, has warned that the hospital campus needs twice as much parking as is currently available.
He has proposed that HSE Estates investigate building one additional level above the existing LUH car park and on lands adjacent to St Conal’s.
"Within a short space of time, we could provide over 2,000 spaces, and it would be cost-effective and it doesn’t need to go to a multi-storey car park, which is going to cost millions in the current climate and costs,” he told the forum.
Councillor McMonagle said the shortage of parking for staff, patients and visitors is now spilling into surrounding areas.
“What is happening is the housing developments around the hospital, people are parking in the housing estates,” he said.
“They’re also parking in the car parks of local shops and this is adding to their difficulties.”
Fianna Fáil Councillor Ciaran Brogan, who also submitted a separate question on the same issue, said the hospital was “bursting at the seams” for parking.
“Only this morning I was speaking to somebody earlier who had to take their mum to the hospital and it was near impossible to get a parking space,” he said.
“What’s needed here, we’ve been talking about it now for a long number of years, is a short-term, medium-term and long-term plan.”
He said there is “ample space” available for development around the LUH and St Conal’s campus, including grass areas and the old football pitch.
Cllr Brogan called for a fresh look at the entire parking situation on the hospital campus in light of the new community nursing unit currently under construction.
He said the new 110-bed facility is a great success story, but will place even greater pressure on parking
He called for a report to come back before councillors and suggested an on-site meeting with HSE Estates and hospital management.
He stressed the importance of parking for people travelling from all over Donegal for vital appointments.
“Donegal is a big rural county. People shouldn’t have the added stress of wondering when they’re leaving the house if they will get parked.”
“It’s not rocket science, to be honest, and I think it’s something we can do better.”
The HSE responded to say that plans are in place to add more car parking spaces at Letterkenny University Hospital over the next two years.
Under short-term plans, between 20 and 25 new parking spaces are expected to become available at the hospital in June, following the planned removal of a construction compound.
Longer-term plans involve approximately 100 new spaces at the St Conal’s campus by the end of 2026, along with a further 25 spaces at LUH once Energy Centre construction works are completed in late 2026.
The HSE said more than 1,100 car parking spaces are currently managed daily across the hospital campus, including 105 spaces in a dedicated patient and visitor short-term car park, four designated older persons’ bays and almost 50 disabled parking bays.
Mr Dermot Monaghan, Integrated Health Area Manager for Donegal, confirmed that the parking issues at LUH have been recognised as a concern for patients, visitors and staff.He said he had “no issue” with an on-site meeting with councillors.
He added that the Development Control Plan is expected to be completed by the end of the year and would deal with some short, medium and long-term issues.
He said that hospital management, working alongside the site car park management company, have continued efforts over the past 18 months to improve parking facilities and increase capacity where possible.
Measures already undertaken include the reconfiguration of reserved parking spaces to create additional parking for patients and visitors closer to the hospital’s main entrance doors, along with the reopening of the dedicated short-term car park.
A number of car parks have also been resurfaced, while carriageways and parking bays, including disabled bays, have been repainted.
Councillors were also told that the Active Travel project, currently being delivered by Donegal County Council on the Kilmacrennan Road and Circular Road, will create new bus stops for Local Link and Town Link services, providing more opportunities for staff and members of the public to travel to the hospital by public transport.