The Donegal Youth Council will write to the Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly, suggesting the introduction of further measures to deal with the issue of vaping among young people.
Earlier this year, the government agreed to a new bill banning the sale of vaping products to anyone under the age of 18.
The Donegal Youth Council has heard consistent concerns raised over the volume of young people who are vaping.
The Health Behaviour in School-aged Children Survey 2018 and the European Schools Project on Alcohol and other Drugs 2019 surveys showed that nine percent of 12-17-year-olds and 15.5 percent of 15 and 16-year-olds used an electronic cigarette in a 30-day period.
In May, Minister Donnelly indicated that Ireland would keep measures taken by Australia – where an outright ban on vaping was introduced – under review.
A delegation from the Donegal Youth Council addressed this month’s meeting of the Letterkenny-Milford Municipal District, Donegal Youth Council Mayor Stephen Sheridan told Councillors that vaping is a ‘prioritised topic’.
The group will write to Minister Donnelly and ask that legislation be introduced around the advertising of vapes and also calling for plain packaging to be mandatory.
“We have done a lot of work on it,” Sheridan said. “A HSE workshop really educated us on the health aspect and the dangers associated. It was good to see the legislation passed earlier in the year and we will write to the Minister for Health again around vaping.
“We have drafted a new letter after the legislation was passed.”
Vaping has been listed as one of the main topics for the Donegal Youth Council’s programme of works for 2023.
Mental health and social media/body image are also noted as being vital topics for the Council.
Sheridan told Councillors how Donegal Youth Council includes 35 elected representatives from across Donegal, representing schools and youth organisations. “We are trying to influence real change,” he said.
The 2023 Youth Conference will take place on November 9 at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Letterkenny.
The group is working on a social media awareness campaign on the issue of vaping and they are also working on the launch of a podcast.
