Women living in poorer communities are more than four-and-a-half times as likely to smoke than those in more affluent communities, according to the latest figures from the HSE.

The Irish Cancer Society revealed the figures as it launched the 'We Can Quit' project.

The ICS said the project is a community-based approach to support women from socially and economically disadvantaged communities to give up smoking.

It provides smokers with group and one-to-one support from trained community facilitators as well as access to free nicotine replacement therapies.

Minister for Health Leo Varadkar is launching the findings of a 'We Can Quit' pilot project this morning.

It recommends removing VAT on patches, gums and other products; and making nicotine replacement therapies available for free to those who sign up for cessation programmes.

The pilot project found that after four weeks, the validated quit rate was 41% and after 12 weeks, the validated quit rate was 46%.

The ICS said this compares favourably with other models of cessation programmes.