A FAMILY of asthmatics is pleading with the Government to make free “life-changing” therapy for children a cornerstone of its upcoming Budget promises.
Tommy Martin Doherty and two of his three children have formal diagnosis of asthma – and he warned that people do not know had bad it is.
The lifelong asthmatic told the Donegal News that even his wife could not “comprehend the dangers of asthma” until she saw their son being raced to hospital.
Tommy, from Dunfanaghy, revealed that even paramedics tell parents of asthmatic children “never wait” when a child has an attack – “call an ambulance or go straight to A&E”.
He is backing calls by the Asthma Society of Ireland to make Maintenance and Reliever Therapy (MART) free for children aged between 12 and 17 in Budget 2027.
The Budget for the year ahead will be announced in the Dail on October 6 by Tánaiste and Finance Minister Simon Harris and Public Expenditure Minister Jack Chambers.
Asthma patient Tommy Martin with his family, including two sons who are also asthmatic.
MART is an international best practice treatment that uses a single inhaler for both daily treatment and symptom relief.
Experts say it especially helps teenagers to reduce asthma attacks, lower the risk of hospitalisation, and simplifies asthma management.
A spokesperson for the Asthma Society of Ireland said: “For many families, cost remains a barrier to accessing this type of inhaler.
“No one should have to choose between paying bills or making sure their child can breathe.
“We’re calling on Government to make MART free for children with asthma in Budget 2027.”
Tommy told the Donegal News: “I was diagnosed with asthma when I was two. It’s quite severe and hard to control.
“Around December 2025 my GP started me on the MART inhaler, and the difference has been life-changing.
“It’s been fantastic and made a massive difference to how I manage my asthma day to day.
“Both of our sons have asthma. We had some really frightening experiences with them both.”
REALLY FRIGHTENING
Tommy added: “Our youngest was in hospital a few times with croup and there have been times when it’s been really frightening.
“His asthma flare ups are hard to manage. We’ve had to call an ambulance a few times for our sons.
“I remember the first really bad attack that my eldest had, he was still in a cot at the time.
“It happened so fast, he was coughing and wheezing and then he was choking. I took him to the doctor and he rang the ambulance.
“It’s terrifying. When your child is struggling to breathe and nothing is working, it’s hard to describe that feeling.
“It was a lesson the paramedics made clear to me that day: never wait; either call an ambulance or go straight to A&E.
“It was hard for my wife to comprehend the dangers of having asthma until our eldest had flare ups.
“I know what asthma feels like — I’ve lived with it all my life. But my wife doesn’t have asthma, and it’s probably even more frightening for her.”
He added: “I turned 40 when I started using a MART inhaler. It would have been amazing to have it at 12. Hopefully my kids will benefit from it.”