Press Release

New Government Drive to Involve Older People in Physical and Sporting Activities

THE MINISTER FOR ARTS, Sport and Tourism, Seamus Brennan T.D., said today that additional incentives and supports will be introduced to increase participation by older men and women in sport and physical activities which can contribute to increasing their longevity and allowing them to live their later years with more greater enjoyment and opportunity.

Minister Brennan said the findings of the latest research into the participation of older people in physical activity and sport, showing that well over half of older people are classified as having a sedentary lifestyle, was not acceptable and required a redoubling of efforts to make sure that the incentives to involve and include more people in their retirement and later years in some form of physical activity was intensified.

Minister Brennan said: "The men and women who are now part of our older generation have made an enormous contribution to the growth and prosperity of modern 21st century Ireland. It was their sacrifice, determination and dedication that laid the stepping stones to the Celtic Tiger economic success. Now, it is only right that we recognise that contribution by ensuring that they are given every opportunity in their later lives to have access to sporting, physical and cultural activities that can make a valuable contribution to giving them well deserved improved longevity, as well as healthier and more satisfying later years.

As Minister for Social Affairs in the previous Government I brought in measures designed to give older people greater income, dignity and security. Now, I am committed to opening up more opportunities to allow our older generation take part in physical, sporting and cultural activities of their choice that will mean they stay healthier and more active longer and so have the time to enjoy longer and more satisfying lives. The key to this is to offer encouragement and practical supports that allow older people flexibility and choice in what type of activity they want to be involved in.

It is also about getting across the message that the ageing challenge is about opportunity and much greater life expectancy than our parents or grandparents could ever have dreamed of."

Minister Brennan was speaking when launching the research report "Physical Activity and Sport: Participation and Attitudes of Older People in Ireland", which was commissioned jointly by Go for Life and the Irish Sports Council. Minister Brennan also announced details of the allocations made under the seventh National Grant Scheme for Sport and Physical Activity for Older People. In the last seven years, over 3,500 grants have been allocated under this scheme to local groups of older people to increase their participation in sport and physical activity. Over 600 groups will share €350,000 in government funding and this allocation brings the total amount granted during the seven years of the scheme to over 2¼ million euro. This is in addition to further spending by Go for Life on a range of training and public awareness activities.

The 627 successful applicants include active retirement associations, senior citizens clubs, ICA guilds, sports clubs, day centres and community centres. The grant aid is being used to buy sports equipment, to fund sport and activity programmes and to contribute to the cost of organising local sports events.

Minister Brennan said the research report "Physical Activity and Sport: Participation and Attitudes of Older People in Ireland" was a timely wake up call to the challenges facing Irish society as levels of life expectancy rise while at the same time we have an increasingly sedentary lifestyle.

The report was commissioned jointly by Go for Life and the Irish Sports Council and carried out by Ipsos MORI. The researchers asked 1000 people over 50 years of age about their participation in and attitudes to sport and physical activity. The report now provides, for the first time ever, a robust national picture of the number of physically active older people and identifies some of the current barriers to participation and potential levers for change.

The report found that 39% of older people participate in sport and recreational physical activity regularly but that only 15% are doing enough to maintain and improve their health. For most of those who are active, walking is their preferred activity while the next most popular activity, in terms of participation, is golf.

It found that 58% of older people in Ireland are classified as having a sedentary lifestyle but the report found that a majority of those who do not engage in regular sporting or physical activity believe that they do an adequate amount of exercise. 40% of those surveyed agreed that they would like to participate in sport and physical activity at a higher level than they are able to which suggests that there is a latent appetite for increased physical activity among older people in Ireland.

Minister Brennan added: "I am committed to building on what has been achieved and to introducing additional incentives and supports targeted at increasing participation by older men and women in sport and physical activities. The findings of the latest research, showing that well over half of older people are classified as having a sedentary lifestyle, is not acceptable. Over the lifetime of its current strategy, 2006 - 2008, the Irish Sports Council has set a target to increase all adult participation in sport by 1.5%. I will discuss this with the Council because maybe we should be even more ambition in our targets, knowing as we do that physical activity is one of the key factors in maintaining an independent, healthier lifestyle into later life".

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