219. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if he will allocate additional funding in respect of Ireland's tobacco control budget; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Stephen Donnelly¸ Minister for Health: Funding for cessation services provided by the HSE has increased from €11.8 million in 2017 to €15.7 million in 2022. In Budget 2024, €1.1m. additional funding was allocated for the Tobacco Free Ireland Programme for the provision of free NRT through the HSE Quit Service, bringing the total funding to €1.8 million in 2024. €1.1m additional funding was also allocated for the development and implementation of a tobacco and e-cigarette retailer licencing and inspection system for the Public Health (Tobacco Products and Nicotine Inhaling Products) Bill, which is currently under review by the HSE.

The Public Health (Tobacco Products and Nicotine Inhaling Products) Bill, which I expect to be enacted by the end of this year, will create a licencing system for the retailers of tobacco and nicotine inhaling products such as e-cigarettes, prohibit the sale of e-cigarettes to minors, and restrict the sale of both tobacco and nicotine inhaling products from temporary or moveable premises, self-service vending machines and events aimed at children.

Other cessation measures have been implemented in addition to those available from the HSE in recent times. As part of Budget 2023, Government removed VAT on all nicotine replacement therapies thus reducing the cost of these products to people who wish to stop smoking. I have also agreed that nicotine replacement therapies should be included in the Drug Payment Scheme and to remove the two week limit that applied to first prescriptions of these therapies.

It should also be noted that as part of Budget 2024 Nicotine Replacement Therapies (NRT) are included in the Drug Payment Scheme, and existing prescription limits on NRT in the Community Drug Schemes have been removed.