Fianna Fáil Senator Lorraine Clifford-Lee has called for new planning regulations to control the number and location of vape shops across Ireland, warning that their growing presence is a serious public health concern.
Senator Clifford-Lee said vape shops are increasingly concentrated in town and city centres, often close to schools, youth, and sports clubs.
“Vape shops are appearing on our main streets in growing numbers, often right beside places where children and young people spend their time. We cannot ignore the impact this is having on public health and the character of our town centres,” she said.
While welcoming existing Government measures to restrict the sale and advertising of vaping products, Senator Clifford-Lee said more needs to be done to prevent vaping from becoming normalised among young people.
“Bright colours, fruit imagery, and eye-catching displays can make vaping products particularly appealing to children. We must ensure that our town centres support healthy lifestyles rather than making these products more visible and accessible to young people,” she said.
Senator Clifford-Lee has called for a clear national planning framework that would allow local authorities to assess applications for new vape shops, introduce minimum distances from schools and youth facilities, limit the concentration of outlets and regulate shopfronts, signage and displays.
“I am calling for a debate with the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage on introducing national planning rules to address this issue. We need a consistent approach that gives local authorities the tools to control where vape shops open and how they operate,” she said.
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