Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 January 2026
934. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Health the position regarding initiatives being worked on by her Department to encourage an uptake in gym membership; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5522/26]
View answer935. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Health the position regarding initiatives being worked on by her Department to encourage an uptake in the number of people participating in frequency physical exercise; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5523/26]
View answer938. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the Programme for Government commitment to encourage gym membership and active participation in sport and exercise; the way this is being approached by her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5526/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 934, 935 and 938 together.
Ireland has adopted a cross-sectoral approach to the promotion of physical activity under the Healthy Ireland Framework. My Department co-chairs action under the National Physical Activity Framework 2024 – 2040 aimed at increasing opportunities for people to be active in ways that fit into everyday lives and which suit individual needs, circumstances and interests.
This Framework seeks to achieve a vision for Ireland to have the most physically active population in Europe by 2040, across all age groups and sectors of society. Achieving this vision relies on:
- Removing the barriers which people face to being active and encouraging people to recognise how to overcome these barriers;
- Enhancing cross-sectoral collaboration at national, local and community level to encourage physical activity across all population cohorts;
- Encouraging a supportive environment where physical activity becomes the norm; and
- Promoting good practice and finding new models of participation which get more people active.
Addressing these challenges requires tailored approaches for a breadth of population cohorts, recognising that the most appropriate avenues to physical activity will vary across a range of factors including age, gender, location, physical health etc.
The achievement of the objectives of this Framework will be driven by a series of National Physical Activity Action Plans, the first of which covers the period to 2029. This Action Plan builds on progress made under its predecessor, the 2016 National Physical Activity Plan, through greater alignment with a range of broader national policies and strategies, along with 59 actions to continue to further enhance the governance and delivery of measures to promote physically active lifestyles.
