I welcome our Cabinet member and Minister, Deputy James Lawless, to the House. You are most welcome to Seanad Éireann.

I am sure you will join me in welcoming from the Illinois Senate its president, my good friend Don Harmon, Senator Laura Murphy, the assistant majority leader, Senator May Cappel, state Senator, Representative Jackie Haas, assistant leader, Jeff Keicher, conference chair, Natalie Murphy, state Senator, and the extremely honourable Fran Hurley, who is one of the national co-chairs of the American Irish State Legislators Caucus. She is one of the founding members and has served and continues to serve in many ways in the Illinois House of Representatives. I thank Fran, Don and all the team from Illinois for their visit to Ireland. They are going to go to Cork and I think they are joining the Galway crew later in the week. Of course, Chicago and Galway have a great link. I thank them for being here. They had meetings today in relation to trade, investment and, critically, the Good Friday Agreement, the ongoing support by the United States and state legislators for the peace process. As I have said many times, there are people alive in Ireland today because the United States got involved but also stayed involved in the peace process. For that, we are truly grateful.

Our first Commencement matter is from Senator Stephenson.

I thank the Minister. We appreciate when the correct line Minister comes to the Chamber to take our Commencement matters. It is noted and we are very grateful.

The closure of Carlow College marks the loss of one of Ireland's oldest and most significant educational institutions. Founded in 1782, it has been part of the social, educational and cultural fabric of Carlow for generations. The Department's press release about the structure transition framed it as positive news but that simply does not reflect the reality of what is happening to the college community. Staff and students have been left blindsided. They are angry, disillusioned and in shock. What was framed as a merger has now suddenly become a closure and redundancy. What was the Minister's understanding of this merger? Was the closure of Carlow College always on the cards from the beginning of these discussions? Will the Minister tell us when the Department or South East Technological University, SETU, advised Carlow College it was not going to transfer into SETU?

Staff are being told that redundancy processes will begin as early as August. These people have dedicated years of service to the college. They have remained committed through the discussions about what many understood would be a transition involving SETU. Staff believed that there would be opportunities for transfer or redeployment as part of that process. Instead, some are facing imminent redundancy. I am particularly concerned by reports that staff are unable to access internal SETU recruitment opportunities despite the fact that SETU will ultimately take ownership of the campus. What are the financial implications for staff? Many have not received increments since 2019 or 2020. Some administrative and support staff earn little more than minimum wage despite years of dedicated service. There is significant anxiety regarding redundancy terms. Staff understood that enhanced arrangements would be available. They are now concerned that rather than enhanced redundancy, it might just be statutory redundancy that they are offered. This is for workers who have devoted their entire careers to this institution. It is an extremely worrying prospect.

What phase-out plan was put in place for this buy-out? Did Carlow College ask for students and staff to be transferred to SETU for the two years of the teach-out phase? Students were in the process of being offered places. They were really excited to take up new offers and now they have been left with nothing. One such student is 23-year-old Dylan Walsh who was offered a place to study psychology. Dylan has Duchenne muscular dystrophy, so travelling to another college outside of Carlow is simply not an option for him. He already faced many challenges completing his level 5 course when his carer was not available to turn up, forcing him to go home while studying. What is the solution in place for students like Dylan? Where can he study now? As Dylan said to me, his hard work did not pay off because of the selfishness of the system that is supposed to be for the students.

There is a whole cohort of students who cannot take up their places in Carlow College. Students who entered the college with an expectation of studying a three-year plus one-year degree to take them to level 8 are now not able to do so. They will have to leave with level 7, which has a real impact on their future employment opportunities, particularly for social care students. Was notice given to the CAO that Carlow College would not be in a position to accept students for the upcoming 2026-27 year and if that happened, when did it happen? The master's and HDip programmes have both been cancelled for new intake despite the fact that they would be completed within the remaining two-year window and would have contributed income to the college. I wonder why that was. It would be great to get clarity on that. There seems to be no credible reason. The entire Carlow College community has been utterly blindsided by this.

Will the Minister commit to engage directly with Carlow College, SETU and staff representatives to explore whether redeployment or transfer opportunities can still be facilitated? Will he consider examining whether affected staff can be granted access to internal recruitment processes with SETU? Will he seek assurances that redundancy arrangements are fair and reflect the years of service, including the impact of stalled increments and progression?

What has been presented and what I have outlined is not the win that Carlow College is being told it is. It is not the success story it is being portrayed as. It has caused so much upset and confusion and I hope the Minister will be able to give some answers to the Carlow College community today.

I welcome the opportunity to address this matter in the House. There has been a great deal of commentary about Carlow College and SETU since the announcement was made two weeks ago, although some of the central facts have been lost. I do not blame the Senator for that but it is important to recognise that the reality of this matter is actually far from how it is being represented in the media and elsewhere.

Carlow College came to Government seeking assistance. The institution had been operating at a deficit for several years. Its financial position had become unsustainable and, without an intervention, there was a very real risk the college would simply cease operations. If that had happened, students would have faced uncertainty about completing their courses, staff would have been left bereft, without any structural protections, and the future educational use of the campus would have been far from guaranteed. I hope the House will agree that this would have been an appalling vista. It is a scenario the Government set out to avoid. It is a scenario, that I, supported by colleagues in government, including the Taoiseach and Tánaiste, and with credit to the sterling work of the Minister of State, Deputy Murnane O'Connor, have succeeded in avoiding. Since that time, my Department has already provided in excess of €2.5 million in additional supports to Carlow College at its request. This is over and above funding provided through the student supports and fee payments. We did so because protecting learners and maintaining higher education in Carlow matters greatly to me and the Government.

Since being appointed as Minister I have engaged extensively on this issue. I have met representatives of Carlow College on at least three occasions, including a visit to the campus during my first month as Minister. I have also met them here in Leinster House and in Government Buildings on a number of occasions. I have met representatives of SETU separately on site and in this House. I have gladly participated in every meeting I have been invited to attend and have proactively arranged more meetings to ensure that this matter receives significant, high-level attention.

In addition to all of those meetings, I convened a dedicated working group involving representatives from both institutions, together with a State-appointed independent mediator. This group has also met on multiple occasions and has jointly produced the roadmap that has now been freely agreed to by both institutions and endorsed by both of their respective governing authorities.

Since Carlow College first approached the State in 2022 seeking support we have engaged constructively and responsibly. The college started out and remains, until this is finalised, a privately owned, church-operated college outside the State system. The ongoing work is to allow it to transition into the wider SETU framework. The roadmap is one that has been requested jointly, then negotiated, and subsequently endorsed by both colleges. The engagement has been guided by four primary objectives: to protect the interests of Carlow College students to ensure the completion of their programmes; to ensure clear, fair and transparent treatment of staff; to secure the future educational use of the campus in Carlow town; and to protect the heritage and legacy of Carlow College, recognising its contribution to education in the south east over many generations. The solution arrived at is one that safeguards current students, secures the long-term future of the campus and ensures the building will remain in educational use. It provides a pathway for staff to be treated fairly through agreed redundancy arrangements, with redeployment opportunities where possible, and through engagement as is appropriate with the representative bodies, including the trade unions, which my officials are already doing.

The fact is that the Government stepped in to prevent a disorderly collapse and replaced uncertainty, fear and doubt with a structured and sustainable future. The teach-out arrangement has been agreed between the two colleges and will work through to 2028. The overriding priority is that all current students will be able to complete their studies and graduate as planned. If we had not taken decisive action and engaged extensively over the past 18 months or more, all parties would be in a far worse position today.

A vote has been called in the Dáil Chamber so we will finish up and suspend in a minute. I welcome guests from Carlow of the Minister of State, Deputy Murnane O'Connor, who is waiting in the wings to step in for the next Commencement matter.

I thank the Minister and I take from his contribution that college management was included in the pathway and roadmap the entire time. The question is whether union representatives were included only recently or were they there throughout the discussions. Staff have been told there will not be pathways for them through SETU and its Carlow campus will not be offering the humanity and arts courses which Carlow College has. They are being told it is redundancy only and there are not suitable pathways for them.

I also have a question about the CAO. When did the CAO know that Carlow College would not be accepting new students for the 2026-27 intake? Students had been applying via the CAO. Can we have guarantees that internal recruitment processes for SETU will be open to academic staff from Carlow College? What specific redeployment and transfer opportunities will be facilitated by the Department? While I appreciate entirely that the Minister has said the management of Carlow College was on board throughout this discussion, the gap remains that staff very much were not and for the 87 staff who were not involved, this is brand new and shocking to them. It is like being hit by a bus for a lot of the staff. For a lot of students also it has come completely out of the blue.

It is very surprising and disappointing for me to hear this because I visited the college and there was local media coverage of it on numerous occasions in the past. The Minister of State, Deputy Murnane O'Connor, has been highly engaged on the issue with all stakeholders. However, it is a fact that until this transfer completes, Carlow College remains a privately operated institution outside of the State system and it has autonomy over all matters, including staff, public relations and employment. It is important that every student will be allowed to continue their training and to complete and graduate as expected.

Furthermore, it is important to say that a significant sum of money will be paid by the State through the Department to Carlow College in consideration of the transfer of its campus to SETU, and it is fully expected and anticipated that this will be made available as part of the restructuring process when consideration is being made for staff. This will happen in the appropriate way through the representative bodies and the trade unions. It was not for me as Minister to do so but I strongly encouraged and advocated for full staff engagement at all times, including formally and in writing over the past two years. I have stressed on multiple occasions the importance of transparent and ongoing engagement with staff, which I was assured was happening.

It is important that we protect the staff and the students and that we secure the future use of the building as an education facility in Carlow town, and all three of these objectives have been accomplished thanks to me, the Minister of State, Deputy Murnane O'Connor, and other active and constructive stakeholders. I thank all involved, including the Carlow College and SETU governing teams, for their very strong work and intensive engagement to make this happen and to protect the future for learners, for the institution and for Carlow town.

As a vote has been called in the Dáil and we need to suspend so the Minister can attend.

I propose that the House be suspended for the duration of the vote in the Dáil.

Is that agreed? Agreed.

I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Murnane O'Connor, for coming in. This is a serious and profound issue I will raise, based on the latest figures from the HSE for people awaiting physiotherapist services in the south-east health region. The figures show 6,693 people have been waiting for those services for more than 12 months.

In the Minister of State's area of Carlow, Kilkenny and Tipperary, there are 295 people. In the south Dublin and County Wicklow area, there are 100 people, but in the Waterford and Wexford area - Wexford is my county - 4,404 people have been waiting more than 12 months. Something has clearly broken down in the HSE if two thirds of all the people in the Dublin and South East health region who are waiting more than 12 months for physiotherapy are based in Waterford or Wexford. Unfortunately, we do not have a further breakdown of how long these people have been waiting. The figures are capped at waiting more than 52 weeks.

The reason I tabled this Commencement matter today is to offer a solution to this, which is to allow qualified athletic therapists, who are regulated by Athletic Rehabilitation Therapy Ireland, to engage with the HSE to free up physiotherapists by allowing athletic therapists to do work coinciding with, not replacing, physiotherapists by working alongside them. These people are qualified, having studied for a level 8, four-year degree from DCU, SETU in our area, or ATU. At the moment, approximately 150 graduates are coming out of colleges having done a four-year degree. They are recognised, certified athletic therapists and they have told me through their representative body, Athletic Rehabilitation Therapy Ireland, that there has been engagement with the HSE about allowing them to work within the HSE structures, but the engagement has not successfully led to them being allowed to work. Given the enormous waiting lists in my area, the south east, and in general, a review of this should be carried out. I would be interested in hearing the Department of Health's position about allowing these professionals to work in the health service, particularly given that they have four-year degrees and are approved and qualified as having a regulated, recognised position. Also, currently the NHS allows them to play an important role in the UK.

I thank the Senator for highlighting this important issue. I saw the figure for Wexford of 4,400. That is a lot of people waiting. In my area of Carlow-Kilkenny there are 295 so I can see where the Senator is coming from.

I am taking this Commencement matter on behalf of the Minister for Health, Deputy Carroll MacNeill. The Minister for Health is aware of athletic therapy as a profession and Department of Health officials have engaged with Athletic Rehabilitation Therapy Ireland, ARTI. Athletic therapists complete training in sports and injury rehabilitation. In line with workforce optimisation policy, the Department continues to focus on population health need and maximising the available workforce to meet that need safely. In this context, Department officials attended the World Federation of Athletic Training and Therapy World Congress hosted by ARTI in October 2025. This included engagement with ARTI and representatives of the British Association of Sport Rehabilitators. The Senator said this is happening in London.

Regarding HSE waiting lists and physiotherapy, physiotherapists complete training in musculoskeletal, neurological and respiratory conditions across health and social care settings. Primary care physiotherapy services for adults and children are delivered through community healthcare networks. In line with addressing more complex care in the community, the Minister has prioritised physiotherapy waiting lists. In 2025, more than 511,000 patients were seen in physiotherapy services. As of April 2026, more than 170,000 patients have been seen in physiotherapy services. Approximately 91,000 patients were awaiting assessment by a physiotherapist at the end of April 2026. These patients identified for physiotherapy have a range of conditions and complexity.

The Department of Health is working with the HSE on a focused programmatic approach to primary care therapy waiting lists, putting in place considerable standardised infrastructure to support systematic responses to primary care waiting lists. As part of this work, a waiting list initiative is under way to address physiotherapy, occupational therapy and speech and language therapy waiting lists and to reduce the waiting times for these therapies to less than 39 weeks.

There is a concern with the waiting lists. I totally agree with the Senator in that regard. This initiative is designed to ensure appropriate and safe care.

The latest available data, from February 2026, shows that since its commencement more than 5,000 people waiting over 39 weeks have been removed from primary care therapy waiting lists. The Sláintecare implementation strategy emphasises the importance of community-based care. One of its main objectives is to enable individuals to maintain their health and independence within their homes and communities. As the Senator will know, we are very much focused on primary care units and having units in everyone’s area. We are looking at them as much as possible. It is about the right care in the right place at the right time.

The programme for Government sets out a priority to place greater focus on exercise and well-being as a preventative and rehabilitation measure. It also sets out to examine ways to support the provision of community-based clinical exercise programmes nationwide. Work is under way with the establishment of pathways in healthcare to direct people with chronic disease into physical activity programmes in the community as part of their treatment.

In acute hospitals and primary care centres, the focus is on treating complexity and care is largely managed by physiotherapists. Many exercise and physical activity programmes are delivered outside of these settings. Contribution to these community-based exercise programmes may be from a range of professionals with expertise in physical activity, including athletic therapists. This is what the Senator was speaking about.

The Minister has committed to a meeting with athletic therapists in the coming weeks. This is to have further engagement. It is a good way forward. I thank the Senator for bringing this up today.

I welcome the Mayor of Austin, Kirk Watson, to the Seanad, as well as his delegation of guests. They are guests of the Minister of State, Deputy Robert Troy. They are very welcome. I am sure the Minister of State is looking after them very well.

I thank the Minister of State for her response. I welcome the fact that the Minister will engage with the athletic therapists’ representatives. Perhaps, after that meeting, we can see progress on it. This is a unique opportunity to assist in tackling the waiting lists. I am particularly struck, as I said earlier, that people living in Wexford or Waterford will be ten times longer on the list than those living in Carlow, Kilkenny or Tipperary. Something has clearly broken down in the HSE model when it comes to providing physiotherapist services in Wexford and Waterford. I urge the Minister of State to take this issue back to the Department and her officials and to engage with the HSE to see what exactly has gone wrong, how it can be fixed and how the waiting list in Wexford, comprising 4,404 people, can be reduced.

I assure the Senator that the Government has a steadfast commitment to improve public health. As mentioned, the programme for Government sets out a commitment to place a focus on exercise and well-being as a preventative and rehabilitation measure and to examine ways to support the provision of community-based clinical exercise programmes. It is also recognised that future health services require new approaches.

The Senator is right that we need to review this. This needs to be reviewed. I will definitely be going back to the Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, in this regard. I was going to read the statement but it basically says the same thing. We need to get this review done. As I said, the Minister will have a meeting. That is important. The Senator can be assured that either my office or that of the Minister will come back to the Senator with an update on the progress going forward.

I thank the Minister of State for coming to the Chamber to take this issue. I raise this Commencement matter because of a young woman in Laois who contacted me recently. Like many others, she never imagined she would find herself fighting not only a serious health condition, but also a healthcare system that seems unable to provide the care she urgently needs. Following spinal surgery, this young lady developed a neurological movement disorder that now affects her ability to stand and walk. She relies on a walking aid every day and faces the possibility of needing a wheelchair in the future. Instead of getting answers and support, she has been told she could be waiting two to four years just to see a specialist.

Let us just sit with that. Imagine you are told your mobility is deteriorating, you are struggling with everyday tasks that most of us take for granted and you are then told that help may not arrive for years. Unfortunately, her story is not unique. Across Ireland, approximately 860,000 people are living with neurological conditions. More than 50,000 people receive a neurological diagnosis every year and yet approximately 24,000 people remain on waiting lists for neurological appointments this year.

What struck me most when speaking to this young woman was the sense of hopelessness that she felt. Every door she tried to open seemed to close - referral after referral, waiting list after waiting list. She is now considering travelling abroad because she simply cannot wait for answers but even this process is not straightforward as she needs a referral from a consultant in order to be able to travel abroad. When she is told that she needs to wait for two to four years, it is mind-boggling and does not make sense. No patient should be forced to leave Ireland to access timely diagnoses and treatment. People should not feel abandoned by a healthcare system at a time in their lives when they are most vulnerable.

Ireland continues to face significant challenges in neurology services, with long waiting lists, workforce shortages and unequal access to specialist care. Early diagnosis and intervention are crucial for many neurological conditions, yet too many patients are waiting. It has left them with untold suffering. I, therefore, ask the Minister of State what specific measures are being taken to reduce neurological waiting lists, increase specialist capacity and ensure that patients can access the care that they need now, not in four years. The woman who contacted me is not asking for special treatment. She is asking for what every one of us would want for ourselves or for a loved one, which is a timely appointment to get a diagnosis, access to specialist care and a chance to live her life with dignity and independence, not fear of deterioration.

Her story is just one story, but it represents thousands more. We need action on neurology waiting lists urgently. We need more specialists and we need to ensure that people living with neurological conditions are not left waiting years and years for care they desperately need now.

I thank the Senator for raising this important issue, which I am taking on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill. I understand from looking at the waiting lists. The Senator might send me the information and I will see what I can do, if that is okay. I again thank the Senator for raising the matter.

In Europe, neurological disorders are the third leading cause of death and disability. The numbers are expected to rise in line with our ageing population. In Ireland, approximately one in six people has a neurological condition. The Department of Health is committed to working with all relevant stakeholders, including the Neurological Alliance of Ireland, the HSE and the patients' representatives, to strengthen key services and supports. That is really important, going forward.

We have made significant investments as well as committing to further measures in the programme for Government. The Minister for Health allocated €4.3 million in 2025 to support the implementation of the neurology model of care and the hub-and-spokes model for neurology services. I am sure the Senator is aware of that. This funding is enabling the recruitment of five consultant neurologists and 25 specialist nursing posts. Those posts are specific to this area. The funding is also enabling the development of the deep brain stimulation, DBS, service at the Mater hospital in Dublin, which was allocated 1.5 posts. The DBS is an effective treatment for Parkinson’s disease and other movement disorders. As of April 2026, approximately 78% of the posts have been recruited. We need to do more. The Minister is committed.

This service development is to progress the implementation of the HSE model of care for neurology. The focus of the neurology initiative is aimed at achieving improved access to appropriate neurology services, and the Senator spoke about the lady she knows in that regard; improved safety and quality in the delivery of patient-centred neurological care; and improved value for both patient and health services across neurology services. More broadly, the national clinical programme for neurology is actively working on a hub-and-spoke model to guide equitable neurology services around the country.

Therefore, the Minister is working on this. The services will align with the new health regions and tackle the gaps in neurology services nationally. We know the gaps exist and this is something we have to work on. The model will cater for people with all neurological conditions and deliver on the Sláintecare principle of delivering care closest to patients' homes. The model will include one model 4 hospital hub per health region, catering for the most complex neurological care. The sites will support model 3 hospital spoke sites, which will provide services for people with less complex needs. Many hospitals already have well-developed services. Funding received in 2025 is enabling the delivery of phase 1 of the hub-and-spokes model. It is expected that this proposed hub-and-spokes model will enable a reduction in waiting lists and timely access to diagnosis and treatment and, thus, improve quality of life and prognosis for people with neurological symptoms. I thank the Senator.

I welcome to the Seanad H.E. Mr. Ferit Hoxha, Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs of Albania; H E. Dr. Uran Ferizi, the ambassador of Albania to Ireland, and Ambassador Ciara O'Floinn, the Irish ambassador to Greece. They are all guests of Deputy Barry Ward, former Member of the Seanad and current Chair of the European affairs committee. They are very welcome. We hope they enjoy their visit.

I thank the Minister of State. I appreciate her taking this on behalf of the Minister for Health. I welcome the funding but have a couple of points to make. In the case in question, the person has actually emailed the Minister twice and is getting no response. It is a young girl in her early 20s. I definitely will send over the details to the Minister of State. The woman has really been failed by being told she will have to wait two to four years before she even gets an appointment. This is a young girl who cannot work, go to college or do anything else. She is actually not able to walk. This is completely unacceptable.

I understand €4.3 million was allocated but figures like that are big figures that are not making a difference on the ground right now to a young girl facing time in a wheelchair if she does not get an appointment. We really need to fast-track the process where there are particular cases. I welcome the opportunity to forward the details of this case privately.

Again, I thank the Senator. She can be sure I will be speaking to the Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill. She is very committed to funding the services and working in this regard.

It is acknowledged that patients are still waiting too long for hospital appointments and treatments. I am conscious of the burden this places on patients and their families. In January this year, the Minister for Health published the 2026 waiting time action plan as part of the Government's ongoing commitment to improving access to hospital care and reducing waiting times for patients.

Since the commencement of the multi-annual action plan approach in September 2021, significant progress has been made in reducing the length of time patients are waiting, and this is really important for us. These improvements have been achieved against the backdrop of increased demand for planned care services. Addressing this increased demand while also working to sustainably reduce waiting times will require the health service to deliver more services. We have to consider productivity, efficiency, ongoing reform and enabling supports through targeted additional capacity.

The waiting time action plan sets out six targets that will be achieved through the delivery of 36 actions under the scheme of reforming planned care, enabling planned care and capacity optimisation. With the 2026 plan, we will continue to build upon the progress delivered to date under the multi-annual action plan approach, moving towards the ultimate vision of a public healthcare service in which everyone has timely access to high-quality scheduled care where they need it. The progress is seeing the implementation of the plan together with the roll-out of the model of care. Therefore, there is work being done but the Senator should absolutely send me on the details. Again, I thank her for highlighting this important issue.

Next up is the incredibly lucky Senator Robbie Gallagher.

You have to buy the ticket if you want to win the prize.

Absolutely, yes.

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit, an Teachta Troy, go dtí an Teach inniu. Prevention is better than the cure is an old adage that is as true today as it ever was. This is particularly relevant with regard to health and well-being. Every year, the health budget increases. Treating illness is an incredibly expensive business. It makes sense perfect sense to spend on preventative measures and to support people who are trying to stay healthy. More people in Ireland today are living with obesity, diabetes, heart disease and mental health challenges than ever before. Billions of euro are spent each year treating these conditions that are often preventable.

A system that only intervenes after people become ill will always be under pressure. On the other hand, a system that supports people to stay healthy builds resilience. When people spend money on activities that keep them fit and healthy, the State should recognise that fact, just as it does with GP visits, prescriptions or other medical treatments. If gym membership or other approved physical activities were treated like other health expenses, people could claim tax back at the standard rate. For example, if someone is paying €500 a year for gym membership, they could claim 20% back and get a rebate of approximately €100.

The rebate would help reduce the cost and reward healthy choices. It would support people who want to stay active, whether through gyms, fitness classes, swimming or structured exercise programmes. The State already subsidises preventative dental care on the understanding that early intervention reduces long-term costs and it makes perfect sense. Extending this preventative logical to physical activity is consistent with other existing health policies.

We are very good at spending money on people who are unwell. We are not so good at supporting people to stay healthy in the first place. Regular physical activity reduces pressure on GP and hospital services. It improves mental health, lowers long-term healthcare costs and helps people remain active in work and community life for longer. Even small increases in activity levels can have positive meaningful impacts on demands across the health system. If a modern tax incentive encouraged more people to stay active, the return on that investment would be financial, social and measured in a better quality of life.

Fundamentally, this would align the tax system with an outcome that we already say that we want. Preventative health is about reducing future pressures on the system so that we can cope better when shocks inevitably come. Allowing people to claim tax back on gym membership is a small change, but it would send a clear signal that prevention matters and that staying active is something that the State should actively support. We should encourage as many of our citizens as possible to stay fit and active. A small bit of physical activity a day will pay dividends in the long run.

A good Monaghan man, Professor Niall Moyna, said that if we could get the benefits of physical exercise and put it into a capsule or tablet, it would be a world best seller. Any help that we can give to people who are members of gyms or swimming pools or whatever would send out a positive message to encourage people to take up or continue with physical activity. An incentive in the budget in September would send out a positive message whereby people would get a small return back on their gym membership.

I thank the Senator for raising this extremely matter in the House today. I acknowledge his passion and advocacy on this issue over many months and years. I know that when I am going through a bout of health consciousness and running 5 km at a time, I feel far better than when I am not. We can all agree on the importance of participating, encouraging greater participation in sport and fitness activities and continuing to support those already participating in sports. It is acutely important.

As the Senator said, prevention is far better than the cure. The Senator will be aware that the Programme for Government: Securing Ireland’s Future includes a commitment “to consider measures, in conjunction with the Department of Finance, to encourage gym membership and active participation in sport and exercise”.

The programme for Government also acknowledges that sport "holds a special place in Irish life and society promoting health and wellbeing, encouraging community participation and instilling a sense of pride in our people." Certainly, we instilled a sense of pride in our people in Westmeath by winning the Leinster championship only a couple of weeks ago. I am sorry to disappoint the Acting Chairperson, Senator Andrews, but I never thought I would get the opportunity to acknowledge that in the Seanad. It certainly was a huge achievement for Westmeath to win only its second ever provincial title in the last number of years. It really did instil a sense of pride in the whole community in Westmeath.

The programme for Government also commits to supporting our sporting ecosystem so more people can participate, reap the benefits of sport, and fulfil their potential - from grassroots right up to high performance level. This can be achieved through a variety of means including increased participation, education, increased funding, supporting high performance and governance.

I would like to take this opportunity to note that the tax code already provides for a number of fitness-based measures more generally. For example, the cycle-to-work scheme provides that bicycles and associated safety equipment provided by employers to employees will be treated as a tax exempt benefit-in-kind subject to certain conditions being met. One of the benefits envisaged from the scheme was that more people cycling to and from work would improve health and fitness levels.

In addition, the accelerated capital allowance scheme for childcare facilities and fitness centres encourages employers to develop on-site childcare facilities and fitness centres for their employees. The scheme provides accelerated allowances for qualifying buildings or structures over a seven-year period and accelerated allowances for related equipment at 100% in year one.

Furthermore, the private gym sector already receives tax-based public support through a reduced rate of VAT of 9% on membership fees. It is estimated that this reduced rate saves private gym operators and gym members in the order of approximately €34 million per annum.

Officials in the Department of Finance considered potential tax measures to support gym and sports membership as part of the annual Tax Strategy Group process last year, set out in chapter 10 of the Income Tax, Tax Strategy Group - 25/01 budget 2026 paper, which is available on the Department's website. After considering the matter, the introduction of an income tax relief on gym and sports membership was not recommended at that time. However, as the Senator will be aware, the consideration of various tax measures is a matter for individual budgets. As with other commitments, this will be kept under review. Decisions regarding taxation measures are made in the context of the annual budget and Finance Bill processes at the appropriate time and having regard to available resources and the sound management of the public finances.

I thank the Minister of State for his comprehensive response to my question. As he outlined, this particular initiative makes perfect sense. What we are talking about is prevention rather than cure. If we can encourage, where possible, more people to take up gym membership, whether in swimming pools or wherever, that is a good thing.

It can be quite costly to be a member of a gym - €500, €600 or €700 per annum - but it is hugely encouraging to see so many, young and old, taking up gym membership. Giving them something small back would be a positive signal for the Government to send out to encourage people to keep at it, and some kind of tax relief in the next budget would very much be welcome.

I am not sure if I could allow the Minister of State to speak again after his reference to Dublin's inglorious defeat.

All I would say is I do not know how but, after being beaten twice, you are still in the championship. The championship was never designed to give teams such as Dublin three cracks at the whip but there you have it.

I have listened carefully to Senator Gallagher's contribution and I want to reiterate the point that it is a programme for Government commitment that we want to look at a variety of means of increasing participation in sport. This, quite clearly, is one opportunity.

The Senator will acknowledge that the level of capital investment in our sporting facilities over the last number of years has been significant. In fact, it has been over and above the target we set ourselves. I am conscious that the Minister of State, Deputy McConalogue, will be bringing forward a new round of sports capital programmes later this year. This will provide opportunities for sports clubs, including small clubs like my own Ballynacargy GAA, that have built gyms as part of community centres or community facilities. These are available to members, sometimes free of charge and sometimes only costing €40 or €50.

Supports currently exist, but I take on board what the Senator said in relation to people paying hundreds of euro annually to be members of a gym. There is an opportunity here to give something back. I have heard what the Senator has said and will certainly bring the very forceful message he has raised here back to my colleague, the Minister, Deputy Harris, for consideration by the whole of the Government in the upcoming budget.

I thank the Minister of State.