Paul Lawless (Mayo, Aontú) | Oireachtas source

We should also focus on preventative healthcare from the earliest stages, from children upwards. Sport is of critical importance. One in five children stops participating in sport in the transition from primary school to first year. There is another massive drop off in terms of participation in third year among those who are 15 and 16 years of age. It is important that the Minister addresses it. There are serious issues in the changing of curriculum and additional bureaucracy. It is going to hamper extracurricular activities in schools, which will have a massive impact on them during their adult life as well.

Volunteerism is also in decline. One in four volunteers never returned after Covid. There is a major difficulty around Garda vetting and the fact it is required for each and every organisation that a volunteer may engage in. We should consider having one Garda vetting certificate that would allow the volunteer to engage across the different groups, etc.

I want to bring to the Minister's attention the Icelandic model to ensure that children stay in sport and extracurricular activities from early childhood to adulthood. They introduced a card that allows for children to use the card for various sporting activities, etc.. That would have a massive impact and help young people stay involved in sports and activity. If we lose them in early childhood, it is very difficult to get back into good habits in later life.

I want the Minister to consider the introduction of a tax break for gym membership. We have a tax break for people who have medical insurance, yet there is no tax break for people who take proactive steps in their own lives to stay healthy. I urge the Minister to please introduce a tax break in that regard.

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