A decision to push out a tax on vapes to next year has been criticised by the Irish Heart Foundation.
As part of Budget 2024, a packet of 20 cigarettes will increase by 75c from midnight, with a pro-rata increase on other tobacco products, bringing the price of cigarettes to €16.75.
Finance Minister Michael McGrath said a plan to introduce a tax on e-cigarettes and vaping products will be brought in for Budget 2025.
"Considerable preparatory work will need to be carried out by my department and Revenue in drafting this legislation," he told the Dáil earlier.
The Irish Heart Foundation has welcomed the 75c increase in the price of a pack of cigarettes.
IHF Director of Advocacy Chris Macey said the tax on vapes is crucial.
"Nicotine is one of the most addictive substances on the planet and there has been an explosion in youth use of e-cigarettes that has been further fuelled by the advent of disposable vapes," he said.
“We can’t afford to wait a moment longer than necessary to impose this tax.
"The Government knows the threat they pose to the future health of our children and that higher taxes could significantly reduce the number of child vapers because of their sensitivity to price increases."
A teen vaping on the street. Image: Steven Gill / AlamyLast week, the charity called on the Minister to introduce a 10c per millilitre of e-liquid tax, which would have increased the cost of single-use vapes by €2.
“Ireland has been one of the slowest countries to react in Europe to the vaping menace - we are one of the last countries across the entire continent where it is still legal to sell vapes to children,” Mr Macey said.
"More than half of EU member states have already imposed additional taxes on e-cigarettes to protect children's health.
“The current legislation to ban the sale of e-cigarettes to under-18s has been delayed for years – and we still don’t know when it will be enforced.
“There should be no unnecessary delay in the imposition of e-cigarette tax," he added.
A man smokes a cigarette in July 2011. Image: RayArt Graphics / Alamy Stock PhotoForest Ireland spokesman John Mallon has said he believes the increase is unfair.
"Smokers don't deserve this," he said.
"Annual tax hikes on tobacco are punishing consumers for enjoying a perfectly legitimate habit.
"Not only does it discriminate against consumers on lower incomes, it will drive even more smokers to the black market."
Mr Mallon said retailers will be the ones losing out.
"Excise duty on tobacco was already at punitive levels - raising it again by 75c is a spiteful attack on law-abiding consumers," he said.
"Legitimate retailers will lose business to criminal gangs, and smokers who stay within the law will be further punished compared to those who, understandably, buy their tobacco from illicit traders," he added.
