Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 30 Sep 1997

Vol. 480 No. 6

Written Answers - Smoking Regulations.

Trevor Sargent

Question:

256 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will outline on a health board by health board basis the number of owners, managers or persons in charge of restaurants, canteens, cafés and snack bars in each health board area who have made written application to the chief executive of the local health board since 1 May 1996 and 31 July 1997, to seek a reduction in the number of seats where smoking is prohibited from at least half to at least one quarter of the seat area, as set out in the Tobacco (Health Promotion and Protection) Regulations, 1995; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14363/97]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Cowen):

The information sought by the Deputy is as follows:

Health Board	Since 1 May 1996	Since 31 July 1997
Eastern	0	1
Midland	0	0
Mid-West	0	0
North-East	0	0
North-West	0	0
South-Eastern	0	2
Southern	0	0
Western	0	0

The environmental controls on smoking in restaurants, cafes, canteens and snack bars were introduced to reduce the exposure of the public to environmental tobacco smoke. It is recognised that prolonged exposure to environmental tobacco smoke is a distinctive hazard to the health of the non-smoker.