Almost 40 per cent of older people are taking part regularly in sport and other physical activity, but only 15 per cent are doing enough to maintain and improve their health, according to a study published yesterday.
It found that for most of those who are active, walking was their preferred activity, with golf next on the list.
The study - Physical Activity and Sport, Participation and Attitudes of Older People in Ireland - was conducted by Ipsos MORI. It found that 58 per cent of older people in the Republic are clasified as having a sedentary lifestyle but it found a majority of those who do not take part in regular sporting or physical activity believed they do an adequate amount of exercise.
"Forty per cent of those questioned, agreed that they would like to participate in sport and physical activity at a higher level than they are able to. This suggests that there is a latent appetite for increased physical activity among older people in Ireland," the survey said.
The survey was commissioned by Go for Life and the Irish Sports Council. Go for Life is the national programme for sport and physical activity for older people, and is funded by the Irish Sports Council.
An Age and Opportunity initiative, it has provided more than €2.25 million by way of 3,500 grants to older people.
Yesterday, the Minister for Arts, Sport and tourism, Mr Seamus Brennan, announced that €350,000 had been allocated to 627 groups.
"These grants allow older people to decide for themselves how they choose to be more active and they are making a huge contribution to improving the physical, social and psychological wellbeing of those getting on in age."
Organisations receiving grants include sports clubs, day centres, community centres, active retirement associations and senior citizens associations. The aid is being used to buy equipment and to fund sport and other activity programmes.