Asthma Society calls on Government to make MART inhalers free for children aged 12-17 years in Budget 2027
The Asthma Society of Ireland’s 2027 Pre-Budget Submission, Backing Every Breath, Building Better Care, calling on Government to take urgent action to improve asthma care and ensure that cost is never a barrier to accessing the vital treatment.
Our central recommendation is the phased introduction of free Maintenance and Reliever Therapy (MART) inhalers, starting with children aged 12–17 at a cost of €12.1 million to the State, helping tens thousands of families access this treatment, recommended by Irish and international clinical guidelines.
The launch comes alongside recent research from the Asthma Society which highlights the growing financial burden asthma places on families across Ireland. A patient survey carried out in April 2026 found that 46% of people feel asthma places a financial strain on their household and 1 in 10 (9%) said their child had gone without their prescribed asthma medication during the previous three months because they could not afford it.
Making recommended treatment affordable
Current Irish and international clinical guidelines recommend Maintenance and Reliever Therapy (MART) as the preferred treatment for most people with asthma aged 12 years and older.
MART uses a single combination inhaler for both daily prevention and symptom relief. Clinical evidence shows it can reduce severe asthma attacks, improve asthma control and help keep people out of hospital. Despite these benefits, the higher cost of MART inhalers means they remain out of reach for many families.
The Asthma Society is therefore calling on Government to make MART inhalers free for children aged 12–17, at an estimated annual cost of €12.1 million.
Adolescence is a particularly important stage in asthma management. As responsibility for managing asthma begins to shift from parent to young person, adherence to treatment often declines, increasing the risk of avoidable asthma attacks and emergency hospital admissions. Removing financial barriers to recommended treatment would help more children establish lifelong habits that support good asthma control.
Launching the submission, Eilís Ní Chaithnía, Chief Executive Officer of the Asthma Society of Ireland, said:
“We know what the recommended treatment is. We know it reduces severe asthma attacks, improves quality of life and helps keep people out of hospital. Yet for too many families, cost is standing in the way of accessing that treatment.”
A parent’s experience
Michelle Cusack Sexton, whose daughter Gemma lives with asthma, welcomed the Society’s call for action.
After Gemma experienced a severe asthma attack, she went from being a world champion kickboxer to being afraid to train again. Moving to a MART inhaler significantly improved her asthma control, but the cost of treatment continues to place a strain on the family.
Michelle said:
“Watching your child struggle to breathe is something no parent should ever experience. Moving to a MART inhaler has made a huge difference to how well Gemma’s asthma is controlled, but the cost of managing her asthma still places a real strain on our family every month. I hope this Budget will help ensure that every young person with asthma can access the care they need without cost standing in the way.”
A roadmap for better asthma care
While affordable access to MART inhalers is the Society’s flagship recommendation, the Pre-Budget Submission outlines a broader programme of investment to improve asthma care across Ireland.
The recommendations include:
- Improving access to objective asthma diagnostics in primary and community care.
- Investing in specialist severe asthma services, including national patient registries and Advanced Nurse Practitioners.
- Expanding access to vaccinations for people most at risk from respiratory illness.
- Supporting reimbursement of Sublingual Immunotherapy (SLIT) for house dust mite allergy.
- Strengthening smoking cessation measures.
- Investing in warmer, healthier homes and environments that support respiratory health.
These recommendations aim to improve health outcomes, reduce avoidable hospital admissions and prevent asthma deaths while delivering better value for the healthcare system.
The Asthma Society’s Pre-Budget Submission 2027 – Backing Every Breath, Building Better Care – sets out practical, evidence-based recommendations that would improve the lives of people with asthma while supporting a more sustainable healthcare system.
We are calling on Government to make Budget 2027 a turning point for asthma care in Ireland.