The HSE has launched a new tobacco free initiative in community centres in the Fingal county council area. It’s aimed at implementing a tobacco-free facility policy.

The toolkit initiative was developed by a local development company, along with the HSE’s Health Promotion and Improvement Unit and the Irish Cancer Society.

The toolkit is intended to follow on from the Irish Cancer Society’s ‘We Can Quit’ programme, which promotes the development of tobacco-free spaces in community centres.

The project is being rolled out in Balbriggan, Blakestown, Corduff, Donabate and Portrane, and Swords. All of these areas were involved in the development of the initiative.

The campaign was launched by health promotion minister Catherine Byrne on National No Smoking Day (March 6th). She said the roll out of the initiative in Fingal would contribute to denormalising smoking in the community, and was an important step towards the greater goal of a tobacco free Ireland by 2025.