Cecilia Keaveney
Question:294 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Minister for Health and Children the supports he will give to assist people in their quest to quit smoking; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22157/00]
Written Answers. - Anti-Smoking Initiatives.
The health promotion unit of my Department supports an extensive range of anti-smoking initiatives. The most recent anti-smoking campaign, Break the Habit for Good, emphasises the positive effects which quitting smoking can have on the individual. This campaign was developed in conjunction with the Irish Cancer Society and the health boards.
An offshoot of this campaign has been developed to target young female teenagers. The simple message of this campaign is that smokers are less attractive and it uses a range of anti-cosmetics presented by a character called NICO who highlights the unappealing aspects of smoking. The unit has also co-ordinated two school programmes which seek to prevent young people taking up smoking in the first instance. The Smoking Reduction Action Programme is a peer led anti-smoking programme for schools which was developed by my Department in conjunction with the Irish Cancer Society, the National Youth Federation and with support from the Department of Education and Science. The smokebusters project, which is aimed at primary school children aged between seven and eleven years in an urban environment was developed by the Irish Cancer Society, the Department of Health and Children, the Department of Education and Science and the then Eastern Health Board.
Action against smoking also continues at health board level and in the voluntary sector. The health promotion unit, in association with voluntary agencies active in this area continue to produce a range of materials including leaflets and posters containing information on smoking and encouraging smokers to quit. The Change of Heart handbook which has been delivered to every home in the country in the past few weeks as part of the heart health campaign also offers encouragement and support to those wanting to quit smoking .