Wexford council insists that palliative care nurses will not receive special parking permits

By Simon Bourke, Wexford People

For the second time in as many months Wexford County Council (WCC) has rejected a proposal to issue free parking permits to public health nurses. Having previously raised the issue at the Gorey Kilmruckridge Municipal District (GKMD) meeting without receiving a definitive response, Councillor Nicky Boland brought the matter to the June meeting of WCC.

Arguing that some 30 public health nurses in the county require permits so that they can respond to emergencies without having to seek out parking, Cllr Boland said all these workers drive private vehicles and call directly to the homes of patients receiving palliative and end of life care.

“Could we offer parking exemptions for those who deal with new borns, post-natal care, palliative, and end of life care?” he asked. “They drive their own cars and often have to attend a house in an emergency, they’re carrying in lots of equipment and it has to be done in a hurry. They don’t always have time to go and find the parking meter to pay for the space. “

Asking that the council contact the HSE to discuss a way of issuing these permits, Cllr Boland said providing assistance for the nurses would create a “feel good factor”.

Cllr Nicky Boland. © Sabrina Ffrench

“We would be the first council in Ireland to do this, and if we rolled it out maybe others will follow,” he added.

The proposal was immediately supported by Cllrs Paddy Kavanagh and Michael Sheehan, but director of services Eamonn Hore dampened their enthusiasm.

“We’ve been asked for parking exemptions for lots of different groups,” he said. “Public health nurses are funded through the HSE, perhaps it should be purchasing parking permits on their behalf.”

However, Mr Hore said the council understood the pressures faced by public health nurses and was always willing to rescind fines if “it’s proved there was an emergency”.

As one of a cohort of people who are also called to attend private residences in emergency situations, Cllr Bridín Murphy felt it would be unfair to single out one profession for preferential treatment.

“I’m a social worker and we go to houses on emergency calls, we don’t get permits. I don’t know where you draw the line,” she said. “I’m not detracting from the exceptional work of public health nurses, but there are many professionals who call to houses on a emergency basis, it’s difficult to determine who should get permits and who shouldn’t.”

In a joint statement, the public health nurses working in Co Wexford said the provision of parking permits would “significantly improve service efficiency, reduce delays, and ensure that vulnerable patients continue to receive timely and appropriate care in their own homes.”

“It is difficult to understand why consistent parking provision for public health nurses has not yet been put in place, particularly given that similar considerations already exist for other frontline services working in the community,” they continued. “It is a matter of ensuring fairness, safety, and appropriate recognition of the realities of delivering healthcare in 2026.

“Overall, this request is not about convenience, but about ensuring safe, professional, and efficient delivery of essential healthcare to patients.”