Gym goers to benefit from major cash boost as part of new Fianna Fail tax break promise

GYM goers would pocket cash back on their membership fees as part of a new tax break proposed by Fianna Fail. The party will today launch their sports plan which will also include a €250m fund to buy land and build pitches and sports facilities in communities across the country. Sports Minister Thomas Byrne will today publish the party's sports pitch to voters as they want to promote healthy lifestyles and exercise through sport.

One key aspect of the plan is a tax credit on gym memberships and other activities that would see people get cash back on the cost of their fees. A new €250m "Parks and Pitches" fund would also be created to buy new land for facilities with a particular focus on cities and urban areas. A new National Swimming Strategy would also be developed to build more swimming pools across the country.



The Fianna Fail plan also more dedicated funding to support high performance athletes on the back of Ireland's recent Olympic success. This includes a commitment to complete the National Velodrome and Badmindton Cente as well as a new National Cricket Stadium. The plan also vows to create a new Next Generation Fund to support football academies and a new School Yard Fund to improve sport facilities in schools .

Fianna Fail will also commit to raising the betting tax levy from two per cent to three per cent with a portion of the money raised by this tax hike allocated to the development of sport infrastructure. Simon Harris - Fine Gael- 2024 Leo Varadkar - Fine Gael - 2022 - 2024 Micheal Martin - Fianna Fail - 2020 - 2022 Leo Varadkar - Fine Gael - 2017 - 2020 Enda Kenny - Fine Gael - 2011 - 2017 Brian Cowen - Fianna Fail - 2008 - 2011 Bertie Ahern - Fianna Fail - 1997 - 2008 John Burton - Fine Gael - 1994 - 1997 Albert Reynolds - Fianna Fail - 1992 - 1994 Charles Haughey - Fianna Fail - 1987 -1992 Garret FitzGerald - Fine Gael - 1982 - 1987 Charles Haughey - Fianna Fail - 1982 Garret FitzGerald - Fine Gael - 1981 - 1982 Charles Haughey - Fianna Fail - 1979 - 1981 Jack Lynch - Fianna Fail - 1977 - 1979 Liam Cosgrave - Fine Gael - 1973 - 1977 Jack Lynch - Fianna Fail - 1966 - 1973 Sean F. Lemass - Fianna Fail - 1959 - 1966 Eamon de Valera - Fianna Fail - 1957 - 1959 John Costello - Cumann na nGaedheal - 1954 - 1957 Eamon de Valera - Fianna Fail - 1951 - 1954 John Costello - Cumann na nGaedheal - 1948 - 1951 Eamon de Valera - Fianna Fail - 1932 - 1948 William Thomas Cosgrave - Cumann na nGaedheal - 1922 - 1932.