Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

In Carlow, an excellent and very successful private sports programme was delivered for older persons through SETU. Sport Ireland has recently withdrawn the funding which has heavily subsidised this class. The majority of the participants on this scheme were on disability pensions or old-age pensions. The users of the service see their physical health, energy and overall well-being vastly improved as a result of participating in the programme. The money used to subsidise the programme was part of a research project, physical activity for chronic conditions, PACC, to try to develop an affordable pathway for persons living with chronic conditions to participate in physical activity. The programme was delivered by a private service but it is no longer possible for the local support partnership to fund it. This was a great scheme and many people have contacted me about it in the last week. I ask that it be looked at.

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