Ivana Bacik (Dublin Bay South, Labour)
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1018. To ask the Minister for Health her views on the need to provide additional supports to persons attempting to quit vaping; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61568/25]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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The HSE QUIT Service is available to adults who are smoking and vaping (dual-use). In some local services (where there is capacity) behavioural support and advice may be provided to those clients who wish to stop vaping (only).

For young people, the HSE Quit 4 Youth is a specific 7-week HSE programme to get help to stop smoking or vaping. At the moment, additional resources for vaping cessation are not being considered.

Preventing smoking initiation and encouraging its cessation remain the primary focus in relation to nicotine use. Half of all smokers will eventually die from a tobacco-related illness and each week in Ireland tobacco smoking kills over 100 people and causes over 1000 hospitalisations. The priority in relation to vapes is on preventing youth use. Budget 2025 and 2026 provide funding for a youth vaping prevention campaign which will be commenced by the HSE in Q4 2025.

There have been significant interventions aimed at reducing smoking. Funding for the QUIT service has greatly increased in the last three years, from €13 million in 2021 to €21 million in 2024, including the introduction of free Nicotine Replacement Therapy in 2022, and increased investment in smoking cessation services including the recent allocation of resources to stop smoking services in maternity care.