Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 2 November 2021
1004. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if the use of home rolled tobacco cigarettes has increased during the course of the lockdown; if the use of such cigarettes has led to a return to conventional smoking habits; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52848/21]
View answer1006. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the degree to which his Department has monitored smoking habits in Ireland with particular reference to the need to determine whether it is on the increase or otherwise; if particular action needs to be taken to address increases in smoking; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52850/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1004 and 1006 together.
Adult smoking trends are monitored via the Healthy Ireland Survey each year in order to measure success against the objective of Tobacco Free Ireland, the national tobacco control policy, to achieve a smokefree Ireland by 2025. Overall smoking prevalence declined by 6% between 2015 and 2019 indicating that increasing numbers of people are successfully quitting long-term. While the 2020 survey could not be conducted due to COVID-19 a survey was carried out in 2021 and its findings will be published in due course.
The HSE also monitors smoking prevalence and behaviour on a quarterly basis and continued to do so throughout the pandemic. They report that the use of roll-your-own tobacco, which is a conventional combustible tobacco product, has remained largely the same between 2019 and 2021 at around 30% of smokers.
