Malcolm Byrne (Wicklow-Wexford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for his response. I welcome that we will see details when the annual tax strategy group process develops over the summer. I ask the Minister of State to input into this process given he has responsibility for older people.

That was a little bit of a standard Department of Finance answer in that the officials are obviously concerned about potential loss of tax income, but this must be seen as a health promotion measure. I cited the World Health Organization figures on the cost not just to the economy but also to the health service as a result of inactivity. If, as expected, nursing home demand in Ireland increases by 123% by 2031 that is going to cost the State over €500 million every year. We are trying to encourage people to live longer, but also to have healthier lives, and gym membership is very much part of that. If we can incentivise or encourage people and even if it is part of the senior citizens’ package – the State has been rightly proud of how we have supported senior citizens over the years – it is something that should be considered. It is obviously not just for those aged 65 or 66 years or older because as we get into our 40s and 50s the challenge is as great.

I ask the Minister of State to take it back to the Department, especially with reference to his brief, to look at the experiences in Canada and Singapore, to consider this as a health promotion measure and to engage with the Irish Physical Activity Alliance and gyms around the country to talk about how this would work. I would love to see the commitment in the programme for Government being met in time for budget 2026.

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