Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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1064. To ask the Minister for Health the extent to which his Department continues to monitor the effects of alternatives to tobacco smoking with particular reference to the need to ensure that alternatives do not lead to a return to tobacco smoking; if there have been any indications of an increase in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41713/21]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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1065. To ask the Minister for Health the extent to which his Department continues to monitor smoking trends with particular reference to any return to tobacco smoking which may or may not be attributable to alternatives; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41714/21]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1064 and 1065 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 has declined by 6% between 2015 and 2019 indicating that increasing numbers of people are successfully quitting long-term.

In relation to relapse rates, the 2019 Survey identified that 46% of those who smoked in that year made an attempt to quit with 25% successfully quitting. The 2019 survey found that 52% of successful quitters did not use any quitting aids, with 38% using e-cigarettes and 10% using nicotine replacement therapies.

Trends regarding e-cigarette use are also monitored in the Healthy Ireland Survey. E-cigarette prevalence remains relatively low at 5% of the population and primarily consists of current and former smokers.