Launch of Donegal Age Friendly Car Parking Spaces

The launch of Donegal Age Friendly car parking spaces took place recently at Letterkenny University Hospital by Cathaoirleach Gerry McMonagle accompanied by Liam Ward, Director of Services, Donegal County Council and Assistant chair of Age Friendly Alliance, Sean Murphy, General Manager, Letterkenny University Hospital, Joint Chairpersons of the Older Person’s Forum Mary McGowan and Grainne Hinnes and other members from the Older Persons Council, Peter Byrne, Facilities Manager, LUH, Pat Price, Euro Car parking and members from the Letterkenny Age Friendly group. This initiative is the first to Donegal along with a number of projects being undertaken to ensure that Donegal is prepared for the future. 

In May 2015, Donegal Age Friendly Alliance launched the Age Friendly Strategy for the County, based on the World Health Organisation’s Eight Themes within their framework the strategy outlines the aims and visions for delivery of services in Donegal that will improve the quality of life for our ageing population. We are now three years into implementing our Age Friendly Strategy.

Liam Ward spoke of importance about engaging and working with older people themselves in order to ensure effective solutions to rising issues and to plan for an age Friendly County that provides for quality service delivery and facilities for our Older People and that at some stage will benefit us all. One of the Actions under the strategy was to investigate the possibility of implementing age friendly principles within Hospital facilities, in partnership with the HSE, DCC and a group of Older People a walkability Audit was carried out in Letterkenny University Hospital. This helped the HSE identify the needs of the older Person if they were attending the hospital as a patient or visiting for an appointment.

One of the issues raised in the Walkability report was that there was no parking facilities for Older People outside the hospital. After presenting the report to the Alliance and discussions between Sean Murphy and the Older Persons Council the process began to put in parking places for Older People.

Sean Murphy thanked the Older Persons Council for their contribution in identifying the needs of Older People for Letterkenny University Hospital, that today we launch four Age Friendly Parking Places and it is a start of more to follow in future planning.

There are 4 parking places:

• 2 at the main entrance of Letterkenny University hospital
• 2 at St Conal’s Building

INFORMATION AND RULES OF USE FOR AGE FRIENDLY SPACES

• Special signs have been erected at designated parking places, these spaces are courtesy spaces and it is hoped that motorists will enter into the spirit of this initiative and leave them free for older persons who need them
• The same fee applies as the other parking on the Hospital grounds which is €3 up to 4 hours, €6 up to 24 hours and €15 up to 7 days.

For Further assistance please contact the Euro Car Park office.

Photo Caption
Pictured at the launch of the Donegal Age Friendly Car Parking Spaces, Sean Murphy, General Manager, Letterkenny University Hospital; Mary McGowan, Age Friendly Alliance; Cathaoirleach, Cllr. Gerry Mc Monagle; Grainne Hines, Older Persons Council and Liam Ward, Director of Services D.C.C