Budget 2026 a missed opportunity to make gold-standard asthma treatment free for those who need it most 

While some positive steps have been taken, the Asthma Society of Ireland has today expressed its disappointment that Budget 2026 fails to address the affordability of asthma medication. 

Ahead of the Budget, the Society submitted clear, evidence-based proposals – including the phased subsidisation of MART (maintenance and reliever therapy) combination inhalers. 

Prof. Marcus Butler, Medical Director of the Asthma Society of Ireland and consultant respiratory physician at St. Vincent’s Hospital, said: 

“The reality for people with asthma is stark: deaths are rising in Ireland, hospitalisations remain well above the EU average, and too many families struggle to afford essential medication.  

In our recent meeting with Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, we set out practical, evidence-based solutions – above all, the phased introduction of free MART combination inhalers. These are the gold-standard treatment now recommended for asthma management.

MART inhalers cost around €80 a month, placing real strain on already stretched household budgets. Making them free would lift that financial burden, reduce hospital admissions, and save lives. With around 450,000 people in Ireland diagnosed with asthma – and the condition often running in families – it’s likely that some 150,000 households could have benefitted.

It’s a measure that makes sense for families and, at an estimated cost of €14 million in year one, for the State. The failure to make these inhalers free is compounded by the decision not to reduce the Drugs Payment Scheme threshold or abolish prescription charges.

We will continue to push to turn evidence into action and make asthma care truly affordable.” 

The Asthma Society welcomed wider public health measures in the Budget that will benefit people with asthma – including the introduction of the tax on e-liquids, higher excise on cigarettes, and increased investment in the Warmer Homes Scheme.                             

These measures, recommended by the Society in the run up to Budget 2026, support cleaner air, a healthier environment, and healthier lifestyles that promote better lung health.  

Eilís Ní Chaithnía, CEO of the Asthma Society of Ireland, said: 

“We commend the Government’s action on vaping – particularly the long-awaited tax on e-liquids, due to take effect on 1 November, and the €200,000 allocation to a campaign to address vaping among young people. This is an issue of deep concern to the Asthma Society. The sharp rise in youth vaping poses a serious threat to lung health, with research linking sustained use to chronic respiratory diseases such as asthma. Substantial price increases on disposable vapes and refill cartridges are an important step in tackling this growing problem. 

The increase in the cost of tobacco products is also welcome, though would ideally have been paired with additional investment in cessation services for those who want to quit.” 

Eilís continued: 

“We are pleased to learn of Minister Carroll MacNeill’s plans to tackle regional inequalities in access to care and to expand advanced practice roles. In particular, we are hopeful that this commitment will advance our recommendation that every severe asthma clinic across Ireland has an Advanced Nurse Practitioner in post and an that previously closed roles for Respiratory Physiologists are re-opened.” 

The Asthma Society stresses that much more asthma-specific action is urgently needed. Cost of medication remains the top concern for people with asthma and their families, with surveys showing that one in four have had to skip medication in the past three months due to cost.* 

The Asthma Society pledges to continue working with government, clinicians, and people with asthma to ensure that affordability, access, and prevention are placed at the heart of asthma care in Ireland.