Mags Gargan
Mags Gargan examines the Government’s new National Physical Activity Plan, which aims to get Ireland up off the couch and taking exercise
Last week the Government launched Ireland’s first ever National Physical Activity Plan which aims to get at least half a million more Irish people taking regular exercise within 10 years.
Get Ireland Active – the National Physical Activity Plan was developed following a commitment in a framework document by Healthy Ireland – our national framework for action to improve the health and wellbeing of the people of Ireland – in response to the increasing evidence that being physically inactive is one of the leading risk factors for health.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has identified physical inactivity as the fourth leading risk factor for global mortality and it is estimated to be associated with one million deaths per year in the WHO European Region. A large number of Irish people are not meeting recommended levels of physical activity and there is a huge challenge to change habits at population level.
The Sport Ireland Irish Sports Monitor (ISM) annual report for 2013 indicates that the percentage of people who are highly active is just 31.3%. The Children’s Sport Participation and Physical Activity study (CSPPA), published in 2010, found only 19% of primary and 12% of secondary school children met the physical activity recommendations of at least 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous activity daily.
Wellbeing
The aim of the new plan is to increase physical activity levels across the entire population thereby improving the health and wellbeing of people living in Ireland. The key target is to increase the number of people taking regular exercise by 1% a year over 10 years – that’s around 50,000 people every year or half a million in total – by making exercise a normal part of everyday life and giving people more opportunities to be active.
Key features include:
- A new annual campaign to encourage more people to get active more often, including social media campaigns and a new Physical Activity Week as part of the European Week of Sport;
- Support 500 new community walking groups and extend the Active School Flag Programme to another 500 schools;
- Health professionals will get further training on using physical activity to prevent or treat chronic conditions;
- The getirelandactive.ie website will be expanded as a one-stop-shop for physical activity, including a public database of national sports and recreation facilities;
- There will be a new push to get employers to encourage Healthy Workplace initiatives through walking and exercise activities, standing desks and other measures;
- More physical activity will be provided for people with physical or mental disabilities through guidelines and support materials;
- The National Council for Curriculum and Assessment will finalise a new PE curriculum framework at senior cycle level;
- A new school subject called ‘wellbeing’ will be launched next September as part of the new junior cycle to include physical education.
The National Physical Activity Plan was launched in Ballybough Community, Youth & Fitness Centre in Dublin by Minister for Health Leo Varadkar, Minister for Transport, Tourism & Sport Paschal Donohoe, Minister of State for Mental Health, Primary Care and Social Care (Disabilities and Older People) Kathleen Lynch, and Minister of State for Tourism & Sport Michael Ring.
The ministers said the emphasis is on fun and enjoyment but the goal couldn’t be more serious, as seven out of 10 adults don’t get enough exercise. At least €5.5 million in funding across the three departments has been ring-fenced to implement the plan in 2016, comprising sports measures, Healthy Ireland initiatives, Sport Ireland programme funding and education projects.
“In Health, the focus is generally on the day to day problems we face but we will never get on top of these or get budgets under control in the long-term if we don’t improve our health as individuals and as a nation,” Minister Varadkar said. “Being healthy starts with personal responsibility, but the Government also has a role to play. That’s where Healthy Ireland comes in: the cross-Government, cross-sector programme to improve our health. We are already taking actions in a number of areas such as smoking, alcohol, sexual health and sunbed use. Now this National Physical Activity Plan sets an ambitious target to get half a million people more active within 10 years. I’m very confident we can reach this goal.”
Sports measures
Minister Donohoe welcomed the publication of the plan saying is “about ensuring that we can all take simple steps to increase our physical activity levels, particularly those who do not take part in any form of physical activity”. “Funding of almost €4 million will be provided for sports measures in 2016 to deliver actions in the National Physical Activity Plan,” he said.
Minister Lynch encouraged everybody regardless of age or ability, to find an activity that they enjoy. “It could be football or swimming or any activity. It doesn’t have to be sport. Even a half hour walk most days can make all the difference to your wellbeing,” she said.
Minister Ring said funding will be allocated in 2016 through Sport Ireland and the National Governing Bodies of sport for the further development of the Get Ireland Walking programme and the development of new Get Ireland Cycling, Running and Swimming programmes. “Investment will also be made in programmes to address the high drop-out rates from sport among specific groups,” he said.
An implementation group will now be set up led jointly by the Departments of Health and Transport, Tourism & Sport. The entire plan will be assessed against its targets after three years.