Healthcare Policy
Dail Éireann — 2026-03-05
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Malcolm Byrne (FF), Wicklow-Wexford

The Minister has outlined what a serious issue it is, and the numbers impacted in this country by osteoporosis. We know there are approximately 32,000 fragility fractures every year and that is estimated to cost our health service approximately €464 million every year. That is not to forget the impact it has on the individual patients. Given our ageing population, if we do not address some of this, those costs could rise to close to €1 billion within a decade. I welcome the commitments toward healthier activity, particularly among older people. The Minister will be aware that there is a commitment in the programme for Government towards tax relief for gym membership to encourage people to build resistance and cope with falls. I hope when the issue of tax relief for gym membership is being considered that the Minister will support it.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/dail/2026-03-05/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:54:44+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-03-05