516. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the NHS ‘swap to stop’ scheme which provides vape starter kits to high-risk groups of smokers such as pregnant women; if the Irish health service would consider offering vape-starter kits, given that Healthy Ireland found that one in four smokers who successfully quit used a vape; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27290/24]

Stephen Donnelly, Minister for Health: The HSE National Stop Smoking Clinical Guidelines (Guideline No. 28) were published in 2022. These guidelines define best clinical practice for smoking cessation, including for pregnant women. The Guidelines do not recommend e-cigarettes for smoking cessation as the evidence regarding their effectiveness and safety profile as a stop smoking support is evolving. In February 2023 the HSE announced the rollout of free stop smoking medication such as nicotine replacement therapy for anyone who engages with their smoking cessation services. The combination of behavioural support such as that provided by the HSE QUIT programme and pharmacological support has been found to be the most effective way of enabling people to stop smoking.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 recently 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. As part of Budget 2024, an additional 1.1 million euro was granted for the free NRT scheme.This increased investment in the Quit Service is having a significant impact with record numbers of over 19,000 people accessing the Quit Service in 2023 and quit rates exceeding targets. This is set to be even higher in 2024, as the HSE saw a 66% increase in the first quarter of 2024 compared with the same time last year.In the context of the enormous costs of tobacco to our society, I will continue to ensure that significant funding is provided for stop smoking services, and to reduce the barriers to access evidence-based support.