Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 29 March 2022
819. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Health the progress of the Tobacco Free Ireland strategy; the way it is planned to achieve the objectives of the strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16616/22]
View answerIreland's national tobacco control policy is Tobacco Free Ireland which was approved by Government in 2013. It contains more than 60 recommendations aimed at reducing Ireland's smoking prevalence. The Tobacco Free Ireland Annual Report is published each year and provides an update on progress on the recommendations.
Recommendations that have been delivered up include the introduction of plain packaging for all tobacco products sold in Ireland, a consistent increase on excise duty on tobacco products in each budget and a continual increase in the number of campus, parks and playgrounds being voluntarily made smoke - free spaces.
According to the annual Healthy Ireland Survey, Ireland's smoking prevalence among people aged 15 and above declined from 23% in 2015, when the survey was first conducted, to 18% in 2021.
