Watch video: Decades long parking chaos at Roscommon Hospital hits breaking point

For more than 30 years, Roscommon University Hospital has grappled with a parking crisis that staff, patients and nearby residents say has now become intolerable.

What was once an inconvenience has evolved into a daily ordeal — one that elderly patients, exhausted healthcare workers and long suffering residents describe as “unsafe”, “unfair”, and “a disgrace”.

With the hospital’s limited car parks consistently full, motorists routinely spill into nearby residential areas, block driveways, abandon cars across hospital grounds, and rely heavily on overflow parking at King and Moffatt Dr Hyde Park. For many, accessing the hospital has become a logistical battle.

One woman recounted to the Roscommon Herald how she was forced to walk from Hyde Park to the hospital in pouring rain while suffering a head injury and relying on a mobility stick.

Staff, many of whom are reluctant to speak publicly, painted a bleak picture of daily life. “After a twelve hour shift, we’re all exhausted. Now imagine walking nearly ten minutes to your car on top of that. This is the reality for staff in Roscommon Hospital,” said a staff member.

Others describe having to arrive early or circle the campus repeatedly, sometimes requiring a third person to accompany patients while the driver searches for any space to leave the car.

At Roscommon District Court last September, Judge Vincent Deane was told parking at the hospital amounted to a “nightmare”. Fines are issued daily, according to gardaí.

One staff member who parked on a footpath on December 16th, 2024 told the court she had no choice. “There’s no staff parking. It’s a nightmare out there,” she explained.

A Garda from the Traffic Corps told the court she had found the vehicle “completely on the footpath”, adding that patrols were stepped up following numerous complaints from the public — particularly elderly and disabled people unable to access hospital entrances due to illegally parked cars.

Judge Deane ordered the staff member to donate €40 to Special Olympics Ireland before striking out the matter.

A Herald freedom of information request shows that between January 2023 and September 2025, a total of €3,720 in parking fines were paid for offences on the hospital campus — a figure that does not include surrounding public roads.

Few feel the consequences more directly than the residents living beside the hospital.

Eighty-year-old Seán Faughnan, who moved to the area 40 years ago, says his driveway is blocked regularly.

“I feel sorry for the staff and patients — I feel sorry for everyone,” he said.

“This has been going on for 30 years. Sometimes I’ve had to change my whole day because someone left their car across my drive.” He and his late wife wrote to the HSE and the county council, even consulting a solicitor. They were advised to place notes on cars stating that vehicles would be towed if parked there again.

With eight young grandchildren, the constant stream of traffic leaves him anxious whenever they visit.

Documents seen by the Herald show the hospital has received numerous complaints from patients aged in their 70s and 80s — including two cardiac rehabilitation attendees who received parking fines despite mobility difficulties.

In a letter dated April last year, an 82 year old wrote: “I was very upset. There was no parking anywhere. I received an €80 fine.” Local councillors have repeatedly raised the alarm, insisting the HSE must act urgently.

Cllr Marty McDermott has expressed his disappointment with the current situation. “Expecting elderly people to walk from The Hyde to a clinic is just not right.” Additionally he echoed a common sentiment that hospital owned land at the rear of the car park could provide a solution. “There is ample room there to explore a proper car park,” he said.

At a county council meeting last year Cllr McDermott renewed his call for the HSE to use hospital owned land behind the existing car park.

Several councillors argued that only a multi storey car park will resolve the long running issue.

Cllr Domnick Connolly (FG) said the matter “should have been addressed years ago”.

Cllr John Keogh (FF) added that services at the hospital are expanding, meaning space on the site must be “futureproofed”.

Cllr Larry Brennan (FF) noted ongoing complaints about blocked entrances:

“If Hyde Park wasn’t there, it would be mayhem altogether.” Independent Cllr Michael Holland recounted the case of an elderly bachelor in his 80s who had to walk from Hyde Park to the hospital for appointments — an ordeal he described as “unacceptable in this day and age”.

In a statement to the Roscommon Herald, Roscommon University Hospital said: “Additional car parking for the site is a key part of the Spatial Plan and has been prioritised by RUH as an urgent and essential requirement.” However, despite exploring several off site parking options within Roscommon Town, the HSE has confirmed that no agreement has been reached.

With no temporary car park in place and no confirmed long term solution, frustration continues to mount among staff, patients and residents alike.