Over 8 in 10 people surveyed in Northern Ireland back ban on smoking at school gates

Asthma + Lung Northern Ireland is urging the Department of Health to follow the rest of the UK by setting a smoke free target of 2035, which should include banning smoking around schools, playgrounds and other locations used by children

Released on 5th June 2025

A recent survey of 1,000 people in Northern Ireland commissioned by Asthma + Lung UK Northern Ireland, showed huge support to restrict where people can smoke in order to protect other people from second-hand smoke.

Over 8 in 10 (85%) agree that smoking at the school gates to be banned to help protect children’s health.1 The charity is urging Northern Ireland to follow Wales, where a ban on smoking around schools and playgrounds has been in place since March 2021. At the moment, no date has been set in Northern Ireland to achieve a smoke free target.

Passive smoking is harmful to everyone but is particularly dangerous for children as their lungs are still growing. When a child breathes in second-hand smoke, it could increase their risk of developing asthma or having an asthma attack, hinder their lung development and result in their lungs becoming more sensitive to air pollution when they’re older.2

Smoking is the single largest cause of preventable ill health in Northern Ireland, contributing to a significant gap in life expectancy between the richest and poorest groups, and it's linked to thousands of deaths annually.3

At an event in Stormont on Tuesday 10 June, Asthma + Lung UK Northern Ireland are calling on the Department of Health to use their new powers to take action against smoking so that Northern Ireland doesn’t fall behind other nations.

They are calling for:

  • The introduction of a levy on tobacco companies to pay for a Smokefree Fund, ringfenced for targeted smoking cessation programmes
  • The creation of smokefree and vape free spaces to ban smoking and vaping around schools, playgrounds, hospitals and GP practices
  • The Northern Ireland Executive to set a smoke-free target date of 2035
  • All healthcare professionals to be trained in offering advice on smoking cessation, including all smokers being asked if they want to quit at each GP visit
  • A new and updated Tobacco Control strategy to be published for Northern Ireland
  • The delivery of a regional lung screening programme
  • The delivery of a Lung Health Strategy for Northern Ireland

Sean McVeigh, Principal of St Caolan’s Primary School, Ballynahinch, Co Down said: 

“At St Caolan’s Primary School, the health and well being of our children is our highest priority. We fully support Asthma + Lung UK Northern Ireland’s call to ban smoking at all school and nursery gates.

“Clean air is not a luxury, it’s a necessity, especially for children with asthma and other lung conditions. We believe every child deserves to arrive at school in a safe, smoke-free environment that supports their right to breathe easy and learn without compromise.”

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. We are urging the Department of Health to follow the lead taken in Wales, and ban smoking around schools, playgrounds and other locations used by children and urgently set a date for a smoke free Northern Ireland.” 

-ENDS-

References

  1. Asthma + Lung UK Northern Ireland commissioned Opinion Matters to survey 1,000 adults in Northern Ireland and more than 8 in 10 (85%) want smoking outside the school gates to be prohibited. Combining those who said ‘strongly agree’ or ‘agree’ to the following statement: Smoking at school gates should be banned.
  2. https://www.asthmaandlung.org.uk/how-your-lungs-work/risks-your-childs-lungs/passive-smoke  
  3. Tobacco control | Department of Health
  4. Smoking | nidirect

Methodology:

The research was conducted by Opinion Matters, among a sample of 3,000 Adults aged 16 + in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales (1,000 per country). The data was collected between 05.02.25 - 28.02.25. Opinion Matters abides by and employs members of the Market Research Society and follows the MRS code of conduct and ESOMAR principles. Opinion Matters is also a member of the British Polling Council.