Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 28 March 2023
621. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the estimated annual cost of smoking to the State in terms of health spending; if his Department will be conducting an updated 2023 report assessing the economic cost of smoking, following on from the 2016 ICF international report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14696/23]
View answerThe most recent study conducted on behalf of my Department on the economic cost of smoking in Ireland, "A detailed assessment of the economic cost of smoking in Ireland" was carried out in 2016 by ICF International (UK) in association with DKM Economic Consultants (Ireland).
The study estimated public healthcare costs from smoking to be €506 million per year. This included hospital inpatient admissions, day cases, outpatient appointments, emergency department attendances, primary care and hospital transportation costs. It also included €40 million in State spending on formal domiciliary care.
The study estimated the total cost of smoking to be €10.6 billion per year, which included lost productivity, loss of welfare, fire and litter-related costs. There are no plans to conduct an updated report at this time.
