Legislation around vape shop numbers and locations queried by Mayo councillor

CONCERN has been voiced about the growing number of vape shops opening in Mayo town centres.

Councillor Alma Gallagher has raised the matter with Mayo County Council and she will also be bringing the criteria around nicotine retail licences and the proximity of vape shops to schools before a meeting of the HSE West Forum.

Claremorris Chamber of Commerce representatives had been in touch with her highlighting signage being recently erected on a third vape shop in their town centre, all within 100 metres of each other.

This, she said, wasn't about targetting individual businesses or landlords. It's about whether existing legislation provides sufficient safeguards to prevent an excessive concentration of outlets selling nicotine products.

The HSE now administers a licencing system for retailers selling nicotine inhaling products. However, the legislation does not appear to require any consideration for the number of existing outlets in a town, proximity to one another or their location in relation to schools.

How do you pursue policies aimed at reducing nicotine addiction among young people when having a system that doesn't address the numbers of vape shops operating in a small area, Councillor Gallagher asked.

She added that she would be tabling a motion for the HSE regarding the criteria around nicotine retail licences, with particular regard to outlet concentration and proximity to schools and youth facilities.

She was asking the council to write to the ministers for health and housing seeking a review of the legislation, including a review of minimum distances between vape shops and proximity to schools and youth facilities.

* Funded under the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme