TDs and Senators seek able fitness instructor

A FITNESS instructor for the Oireachtas gym is being sought in a notice published on the Government’s public procurement website, etenders.gov.ie, by the Office of the Houses of the Oireachtas.

An Oireachtas spokesman said the gym was operated by a “third-party service provider” whose contract was due to expire.

A tender process was now being conducted to replace that contract and to examine the possibility of reducing costs and achieving the greatest value for money possible, the spokesman said. “No additional staff are being hired for the fitness room as a result of this tender process.” The spokesman said a small gym, of approximately 75sq m, was opened in November 2005 “to offer a healthy recreational outlet to counterbalance some of the negative lifestyle aspects of working in parliament”.

TDs and Senators, their staff, and staff of the Houses of the Oireachtas can use the facility. More than 300 people had undertaken the required induction course to use it as of December 2008.

The spokesman said “expenditure to the amount of €34,438 was incurred in 2008 in relation to the operation of the fitness room”. He said fitness rooms and gyms were available in many parliaments.

“The role of the fitness instructor is to assess training needs and conduct induction courses for new users, to develop training programmes for users, to provide instruction on the use of equipment and to provide basic first aid.” The gym, equipped with cardiovascular and resistance training equipment, is always supervised by a fitness instructor.

Four part-time instructors currently work a rota system to cover the opening hours of the room.

The gym is normally open for 18½ hours a week, although this is extended to 27½ hours in sitting weeks. There are no membership fees. The notice on e-tenders, seeking professional services for the Oireachtas gym, says a professional fitness instructor will be onsite during opening hours.

While on duty, the fitness instructor will be responsible for management of the facility. They will assess the training needs, conduct induction courses and develop personalised training programmes for users. The instructor will also provide first aid and carry out maintenance checks of equipment, according to the notice.