Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 7 July 2026
796. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Health the measures being taken to strengthen preventative healthcare supports for older people, particularly in rural areas; including supports for physical activity, community-based health promotion, and social prescribing initiatives; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51290/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department is committed to strengthening preventative healthcare supports for older people, including those living in rural areas, through a population health approach focused on physical activity, community-based health promotion, mental health and wellbeing, and improved links between people and local supports. This work is underpinned by the Healthy Ireland Framework , which provides a roadmap for achieving a healthier Ireland by supporting people to be healthy at all stages of life, reducing health inequalities, and creating environments that support health and wellbeing.
My Department’s policy responses are tailored to the needs of different population groups and communities, including older people and those in rural areas. Physical activity policy under the National Physical Activity Framework 2024-2040 supports tailored approaches across the life course, including through sport, recreation and active community settings. These approaches are important in supporting healthy ageing, maintaining mobility and independence, and reducing risks associated with inactivity and social isolation.
The Sláintecare Healthy Communities programme operates across 24 sites in Ireland, including both rural and urban communities. The programme helps tackle health inequalities and promotes positive physical, mental and social wellbeing. In rural sites in particular, initiatives are funded that encourage older people to remain active, participate in local health and wellbeing activities, learn about nutrition and healthier eating, and reduce social isolation.
Social prescribing is also an important preventative support, particularly for older people who may be experiencing loneliness, isolation or reduced connection with their community. It provides non-clinical supports in communities, linking people with local activities, groups and services that can strengthen mental health and wellbeing. There are currently 46 HSE-funded social prescribing services, with at least one service in every county.
A range of targeted community-based initiatives also complements this wider preventative approach, particularly by reaching groups and communities that may not always engage with traditional health services. These include the CAIRDE Project, which aims to reduce suicide and improve the mental fitness of construction workers, and On Feirm Ground, which supports farmers’ health and wellbeing in partnership with the Department of Agriculture. Supports of this kind are relevant in rural communities where accessible, trusted and locally based health promotion can be particularly important.
Community-based settings such as Men’s Sheds also play an important role in supporting wellbeing, social connection and health promotion, including for older men. The Irish Men’s Sheds Association supports approximately 470 sheds across the country, with national funding provided by the Department of Health, the Department of Rural and Community Development and the HSE. The Sheds for Life programme, funded by the Department of Health and the HSE, delivers workshops, health screenings and wellness activities for shed members, including supports on healthy eating, physical activity, mental health promotion and chronic disease prevention.
The National Engage Training Programme further supports preventative healthcare by equipping practitioners to engage more effectively with men in relation to health and social services. It improves understanding of the factors that influence men’s health and promotes evidence-based engagement techniques, and is delivered across the HSE and through community and voluntary sector partners.
Women’s Sheds similarly provide grassroots, community-based spaces where women can connect, learn and support one another in a safe and welcoming environment. They are relevant to the Department’s wider approach to reducing social isolation and supporting wellbeing in local communities. The Department of Health and the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht jointly funded the provision of a facilitator to support representatives of Women’s Sheds in forming a national body, Women’s Sheds of Ireland. Minister Murnane O’Connor secured €150,000 for Women’s Sheds in the Department of Health’s Health and Wellbeing Budget 2026, which has been assigned to the HSE.
The Healthy Ireland Walking Tracks initiative, launched in 2022, directly supports physical activity by helping clubs to upgrade walking tracks and improve accessibility for people with mobility issues, including older persons and wheelchair users. Since 2022, Healthy Ireland has provided funding to upgrade walking tracks at GAA, FAI and IRFU pitches across the country, providing safe and accessible spaces for communities to exercise throughout the year. To date, 181 clubs have benefited from the initiative over the last three years, including 103 GAA clubs, 40 FAI clubs and 38 IRFU clubs.
The Healthy Ireland Outdoor Swimming Initiative also supports increased participation in physical activity by improving access to safe and accessible outdoor swimming locations across the country. In 2026, €400,000 in funding was announced to support projects in 17 local authority areas, including improvements such as accessible changing shelters, swim ladders, safety equipment, beach wheelchairs, hoists and shower facilities. These enhancements are intended to make outdoor swimming more accessible for people of all ages and abilities, including people with reduced mobility, while supporting the physical health, mental wellbeing and social connection benefits of swimming in local communities.
Taken together, these measures demonstrate the Department’s continued commitment to strengthening preventative healthcare supports for older people and rural communities through accessible, community-based approaches. The development of a successor to the Healthy Ireland Framework is underway and will build on these tailored approaches for different population cohorts and communities. It is envisaged that this will be published by end 2026.
