An immediate 25p rise in the price of a packet of 20 cigarettes has been recommended in a new report on smoking and young people in Ireland.
The report "One in Three", published yesterday by the National Youth Council of Ireland, says that one-third of people between 15 and 17 years of age smoke regularly.
The Irish Cancer Society said it was encouraging all smokers to quit for good today.
The Well Woman Centre said that 52 per cent of its clients aged 20 and under were smoking.
The Southern Health Board is to employ five officers to work on its anti-smoking programmes.
The National Heart Alliance called for an annual 5 to 10 per cent increase in the price of tobacco products above the rate of inflation.
The Minister for Health today launches an anti-smoking campaign among building workers.