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Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 21 September 2021

Tuesday, 21 September 2021

Questions (518)

David Cullinane

Question:

518. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health if his Department has plans to introduce a programme (details supplied) at Waterford Institute of Technology free of charge for those patients who cannot afford the programme but who could significantly benefit from same; if additional supports will be made available to cover these costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44449/21]

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Written answers

The promotion of physical activity has been a priority for my Department in the context of the implementation of Healthy Ireland, A Framework for Improved Health and Wellbeing 2013 – 2025, and, more recently, the Healthy Ireland Strategic Action Plan.

This was evidenced by the publication of Get Ireland Active - the National Physical Activity Plan (NPAP); 2016-2020 (now extended to 2021). The National Sports Policy (NSP) was published by our colleagues in DTCAGSM (then DTTAS), in 2018. The two policies are being implemented in co-ordination, with Healthy Ireland represented on the Sports Leadership Group and DTCAGSM co-chairing the NPAP Implementation Group.

NPAP implementation is overseen by a cross-sectoral Implementation Group co-chaired by the Departments of Health and Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media. The Departments of Education, Children, Equality, Disability, Integration & Youth, Housing, Local Government & Heritage, and Rural & Community Development are also represented, along with Sport Ireland, the HSE, the Federation of Irish Sport, the Local Government Management Agency and the academic sector. The Sports Leadership Group, chaired by Minister of State for Sport and the Gaeltacht, Jack Chambers T.D., also has cross-sectoral and multi-disciplinary representation.

The NPAP contains 60 actions intended to promote increased physical activity levels across the population, divided into 8 Action Areas. Implementation of the current Physical Activity Plan is being reviewed this year with a view to charting the future direction of the Plan.

The evidence base regarding the protective effect of physical activity on health will be taken into consideration in drafting a renewed version of the Plan. Physical inactivity is the fourth leading cause of premature death globally. Previous research, quoted in the National Sports Policy, estimates that inactivity may contribute to 12,000 excess deaths in Ireland alone. In Ireland, non-communicable diseases – cancer, CVD, COPD and diabetes, account for 76% of all deaths.

If physical inactivity were absent in the Irish population it is estimated that the occurrence of new chronic heart disease cases would reduce by 8.8%, new diabetes cases by 10.9%, new breast cancer cases by 15.2% and new colon cancer cases by 15.7% and the overall life expectancy of the population would increase by 0.87 years. Moreover, regular exercise is also effective in reducing symptoms of anxiety and depression.

More recent research, conducted in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic, shows that being sufficiently physically active has significant protective effects against severe impacts from infectious disease also. Regular physical activity reduces the risk of upper respiratory tract infections and results in a 31% decreased risk of community acquired infectious diseases; moreover, there is a 37% decreased risk of infectious disease mortality between active and inactive individuals. Regular physical activity can be shown to increase post-vaccination antibody levels, particularly in older adults, and to reduce markers of inflammation.

Recent advice from HIQA to NPHET, following an examination of 46 cohort studies, advises that interventions focussed on maintaining a healthy weight, not smoking, exercising often, being Vitamin D sufficient and moderating alcohol consumption would have beneficial effects on general health and may reduce the risk of adverse effects from Covid-19.

Efforts to support higher population activity levels are ongoing; the NPAP aims to raise the numbers meeting our National Physical Activity Guidelines (NPAG) by 1% per annum, while the NSP has a target of 60% of the population meeting the Guidelines by 2027. The Healthy Ireland Survey, 2019, found that the proportion meeting the NPAG had risen to 46% from 44% in 2015; the Irish Sports Monitor reported that this proportion rose to an all time high of 51% during Q1-2, 2020, during the initial period of Covid-19 restrictions, before falling back slightly again.

In planning to increase physical activity and sport participation levels, it will be necessary to include long-term health condition management and additional supports for people living with disabilities, chronic conditions and/or increasing frailty and disadvantage. In tandem with an increased prevalence of chronic conditions, physical activity levels typically decline with age and those from socio-economically vulnerable communities have lower levels of physical activity and sports participation rates compared to more affluent communities.

The National Physical Activity Plan is currently undergoing a review process; the need for additional supports for people living with disabilities, chronic conditions, frailty and/or disadvantage will be considered in the context of this review and of policy renewal.

In addition to the above response, as the specific query relates to a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.

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