Emer Higgins
Question:1516. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Health if he will report on Ireland’s progress to become tobacco free by 2025; if this target will be met; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33826/21]
View answerTuesday, 27 July 2021
Questions (1516)
Written answers
The most recent Healthy Ireland survey in 2019 found that 17 percent of the population smoke, a 12 percent decline (14 percent smoke daily and 3 per cent smoke occasionally) In 2009 the number of people smoking was at 29 percent of the population. The Health Behaviour in School-aged Children survey 2018 found that 5 percent of children aged 10-17 smoke, a decline of 3 percent on the 2014 figure. While this means that smoking prevalence is on the decline there is still much work to do.
The Public Health (Tobacco and Nicotine Inhaling Products) Bill will ban the sale of tobacco products at places or events that are intended for children and introduce a licensing system for the retail sale tobacco products thus recognising that these are not a typical consumer product. The Bill will also prohibit the sale of tobacco products from self-service vending machines. In addition to legislation, community initiatives such as the ‘Not Around Us’ campaigns in Limerick, Galway and Clare are contributing to the denormalisation of smoking for children and young people while the HSE Tobacco Free Ireland programme has worked with educators to develop content on the dangers of tobacco use as part of the Junior Cycle SPHE curriculum. By using all of the tools available to us, legislative, educational and engagement at community level, I am confident that we can continue to make progress in our goal of creating a tobacco free Ireland.