Action imminent over proliferation of vape shops in Mayo, minister confirms

The Department of Health is in conversation with local authorities in respect of the proliferation of vape shops across the country.

Minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill said legislation has been passed to ban smells, flavours, colours and anything else that made nicotine addiction products more attractive to children.

"The legislation has gone to the President to be signed.

"These shops are bad for public health in terms of the availability of vapes and which are not good for our towns and villages, given the proliferation of such disgusting shops."

The minister was responding to concerns raised by Mayo TD Paul Lawless.

He outlined: "Vape shops are growing at an extraordinary rate across the country.

"Regional and small towns often have three or four popping up overnight.

"We all know that vape shops are targeting young people in terms of smell, their other senses and marketing.

"Some of these vape shops are located very close to schools and appeal very strongly to our young people. They are a huge concern."