Survey shows 85% of people would support a ban on smoking at school gates in Northern Ireland

Politicians here are being urged to help Northern Ireland fall into line with the rest of the UK when it comes reducing smoking.

Asthma and Lung UK is holding an event at Stormont this week calling on Stormont leaders to take action.

It comes after an opinion poll showed 85 percent of people here would support a ban on smoking at school gates.

Joseph Carter, Head of Asthma + Lung UK Northern Ireland said:

“Every year roughly 2,300 people die needlessly from smoking in Northern Ireland, and we need a plan to reduce this (4). Northern Ireland is the only part of the British Isles without a smoke-free target or current plan or strategy to get us there. This is unacceptable and needs to change.

“We need to stop normalising smoking, especially around children and protect their still developing lungs from breathing in harmful second-hand smoke. Our future generation’s health depends on urgent and ambitious policy making to ensure the health of the next generation is protected."

“Time and time again, we are finding that the overwhelming majority of people in Northern Ireland want to see a ban of smoking near school playgrounds."