The HSE has admitted that patients and visitors at Dublin's Connolly Hospital in Blanchardstown are having their cars clamped as a result of a 'pre-pay' parking system in operation at the hospital car park.

Connolly Hospital, unlike many other hospitals, operates a 'pre pay' and time-limited parking system. However, this makes it difficult for patients and visitors to predict the length of they will be parked in the car park.

The HSE, in a parliamentary response to Independent TD for Kildare North Catherine Murphy, admitted that there were difficulties being experienced with clamping of cars on the the hospital grounds, when patients either do not display a parking ticket or their ticket runs out.

Deputy Murphy said as the parking system at the hospital was pre-pay and time-limited, in many instances patients could not control how long their visit would be. She said private parking operators employed by the hospital were charging significant fees to appeal a clamping decision.

In its response, the HSE said the pay and display system at Connolly Hospital was introduced a number of years ago. Consideration had been given a the time to installing a parking system whereby patients would not pay until leaving the car park.

"However, unfortunately. the funding available at the time would only enable the present system to be installed," the HSE said.

The HSE said a car parking management company was awarded the tender for parking services at the hospital and the clamping fees went directly to it. The health executive said it did not have figures for the number of cars clamped at Connolly Hospital.

According to the HSE, there are a number of options for pay and display at the hospital car park including one hour, five-hour, 24-hour and one week. A grace period of 15 minutes was given before clamping occurred.

The HSE says it is now considering a proposal to install a 'paying on exit' parking system at the hospital.

Read more here on hospital car parking.