153. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Health if there have been any official studies into vaping and young persons and the effects of vaping on them. [51648/22]

Stephen Donnelly Minister for Health: At the request of the then Minister for Health, the Health Research Board carried out evidence reviews on the health harms and possible benefits of electronic cigarettes, on the effectiveness of electronic cigarettes for smoking cessation and on whether e-cigarette use leads to subsequent smoking in adolescents. The evidence reviews were published in October 2020 and found that:

- Electronic cigarettes are not harmless to users, but there is evidence that they are less harmful than tobacco cigarettes.

- Electronic cigarettes appear to be as effective as nicotine replacement therapies for assisting smoking cessation for an observed period of up to 6 months. Further study is required to determine their effectiveness over a longer period.

- There appears to be an association between the use of electronic cigarettes and subsequent smoking among adolescents.

The reviews highlighted the need for further research to establish the long-term health effects of electronic cigarettes. My Department monitors, on an ongoing basis, the emerging international research and evidence in relation to these products.

The prevalence of electronic cigarette use amongst young people is monitored via the European School Survey Project on Alcohol and Other Drugs (ESPAD) and the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children Study (HBSC), which both take place every four years. Additionally, the annual Healthy Ireland Survey records the prevalence in the population aged fifteen and above.