NEW FIGURES show an increase in the numbers availing of the Oireachtas gym since Leo Varadkar’s term as Taoiseach began.
New data released through a Freedom of Information Act published by the Irish Examiner suggest that the Taoiseach’s dedication to his personal fitness has had an effect on his colleagues.
The country’s TD’s and Senators visited the Kildare based Oireachtas gym 390 times in 2017, showing a surge of over 40% on the previous year’s figure of 276.
The figures specified that just over 8% of the 4,740 gym sessions recorded were by politicians. The majority of usage came from general workers at Leinster House.
Furthermore, taxpayers were billed a total of €45,582.87 for running the Oireachtas fitness room in 2017.
The figure included payment to Dublin-based firm Inspire Limited to provide two part-time staff at the 60 sq m complex and for other professional services, including a once-weekly yoga class and two weekly supervised group training sessions. Cavan-based T&T Fitness was also paid by the Houses of the Oireachtas to maintain the gym equipment.
The Kildare House-based gym is fitted out with state-of-the-art cardiovascular equipment, including four treadmills, two cross-trainers, two rowers, and two exercise bikes. It also has resistance training equipment, including leg and abdominal machines, free weights, and chest, back, and multi-functional rehabilitation machines.
The gym is open every weekday, with four separate sessions throughout the day on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. On Thursdays, the gym has three separate opening times, with two on Mondays and just one two-and-a-half hour lunchtime slot every Friday.
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