Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Health the steps he will take to tackle smoking in society; the rate of smoking in 2003 for men and for women; the rates now; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37112/12]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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The last available Slán Survey data from 2007 indicates that 29% of people report being current smokers (31% men and 27% women). The Survey does state, however, that comparisons across the years are reported with caution because of the different survey methods utilised. Data from a survey undertaken in 2010 by the National Office of Tobacco Control in the HSE indicates a prevalence rate of 23.6% (25% men and 22.2% women). My Department is planning for the establishment of a new rolling health and wellbeing survey to provide data on the health status and other health related behaviours of the Irish population, including tobacco prevalence data. This is a priority initiative for my Department and a tender competition is underway in this regard. It is intended that the first of these surveys will commence in 2013.

As regards tackling smoking in Ireland, the Report of the Tobacco Policy Review Group will be published in the near future. This report will consider ways to denormalise smoking in society such as extending tobacco control legislation in particular for situations where children are present. It will also consider social marketing and educational programmes as well as smoking cessation services.