New census data shows more than 700 children and teenagers in Tipperary smoke

Seven-hundred and forty-four children and teens in Tipperary smoked tobacco products in 2022, according to new census data.

That amounts to less than two percent of the young population 19 years and under, according to data contained within the Census 2022 Profile Four - Disability, Health and Carers.

More boys were recorded as smoking than girls, with 433 boys smoking either daily or occasionally. Two-hundred and eighty-three girls were recorded as smoking daily or occasionally in 2022.

A further 577 young people had quit.

For daily smokers in the 15-19 age group, the Roscrea-Templemore Local Electoral Area (LEA) had the highest percentage at 4.3%.

Newport had the highest percentage of occasional smokers in the age group at 3.9%.

In the 14 and under group, Thurles and Cashel-Tipperary were tied at 0.1%. But just nine under 14s in the county smoked occasionally and 19 daily.

For adults aged 20 and up in Tipperary, 22,400 people reported smoking either daily or occasionally.

That is around 18%. A further 33,041 people, or almost 27% of people in Tipperary reported quitting.