Kildare's public health nurses 'should be given parking permits'
'They provide an important service to vulnerable people'
Public health nurses working with elderly and vulnerable people in their homes across Kildare should have parking permits.
A call for Kildare County Council to issue the permits to nurses making home visits came from Fianna Fáil councillor Donna Phelan.
She told a KCC meeting this should happen in cases where the nurses “do not have access to private parking, and where public parking is the only available option for the nurse to use.”
Cllr Phelan said they are providing an important service to vulnerable people and when they call they have to deal with an additional medical issue which was not anticipated and takes up more time.
“The real issue can arise when the nurse is delayed and the Apcoa (the company which enforces parking rules and issues tickets on behalf of Kildare county Council) personnel will issue a ticket regardless," said Cllr Phelan.
Cllr Phelan said it should not be a problem for KCC to identify the locations where elderly people are living.
She also said the cost of providing permits to nurses is insignificant when compared with the cost of paying for tickets issued by Apcoa.
According to KCC while emergency services such as gardaí, firefighters and ambulance paramedics are exempt from laws relating to parking - there are no provisions for other service providers such as medical professionals or the use of private vehicles by emergency service personnel.
KCC operates a permit system (where no specific parking is available) for residential parking and householders may also apply for a visitor permit.
KCC also said it has not been made aware of any parking issues being experienced by public health nurses who are visiting clients/patients.
However if details are provided it will engage with the HSE.
The meeting was also told that any changes to parking permits may require an amendment of all parking byelaws in place throughout the county.