One of the Republic’s largest hospitals is seeking more than €1 million a year in lease payments for the operation of its multistorey car park.
The 850-bed Beaumont Hospital, in north Dublin, is also seeking an additional percentage of the turnover generated by the private operator of the car park.
The construction of the 600-space facility previously drew the attention of the Comptroller and Auditor General, who found the State was between €9 million and €13 million worse off because of tax forgone in a public-private partnership and lower-than-expected rent returns between 1999 and 2002.
The move to seek in excess of €1 million a year from the car park yesterday came under fire from the Independent TD Finian McGrath.
Motorists are currently charged €2.20 an hour to use the car park. McGrath said: “Car parks at hospitals should not be seen as money-making opportunities, and I am appalled that patients’ families will be the ones who will have to pay for the lease payments through car-parking charges.”
Beaumont’s tender documentation says 440 of the 600 spaces will be available to the public; staff will be able to use the remainder without charge.
Beaumont Hospital was not in a position yesterday to respond to queries about the tender. It expects the new two-year lease, which includes an option to extend for a further two years, to commence in March.
