Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 316: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the amount of money spent on anti-smoking measures, staff and media campaigns while the number of cigarettes sold here in 2005 rose by 63 million; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1132/06]

Seán Power (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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In 2005 the health promotion unit of this Department spent approximately €2 million on anti-smoking measures including media campaigns and the national smokers quitline. There was a growth of 3.6% on the sales of tobacco tax stamps, which equates to almost 193 million cigarettes, during the same period. The office of tobacco control monitors cigarette smoking prevalence and behaviour on a monthly basis and recent data show that smoking prevalence has decreased from 27% in 2002 to 23.98% in October 2005. The office also argues that it is inaccurate to make a direct correlation between revenue take and cigarette consumption due to the manner in which excise duty on tobacco is collected.