The Irish Cancer Society has welcomed the decision by the government to review parking charges at hospitals.
The announcement was made following complaints that people with seriously ill relatives are being hit with excessive parking fees while visiting loved ones.
Car parking charges at Northwest Hospitals are among the cheapest in the country for long term parking, but among the highest for visits of an hour or less.
At both Letterkenny and Sligo, the charges operate on the basis of €3 for four hours, or a daily charge of €6.
However, because there is no option to pay an hourly rate, the two hospitals are the fifth highest in the country for short visits.
The Health Minister Simon Harris says he wants to establish clear national guidelines on the issue.
Spokesperson for the Irish Cancer Society is Donal Buggy:
