Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly will this week seek Cabinet approval for legislation proposing to increase the legal age of purchasing cigarettes by three years.

The bill will be designed so that it does not affect those who are between the ages of 18 and 21 and who are currently legally entitled to be sold tobacco products.

The prohibition on the retail sale of tobacco products will not apply to this cohort for a "wash through" period.

Mr Donnelly announced his intention to increase the legal age for buying tobacco products in March.

A ban on the sale of tobacco and vape products from vending machines is also set to be enacted.

He said: "Really it's a measure aimed at people who are 15, 16, 17 years of age that with a smoking age at 18, they find it relatively easy to buy cigarettes...but that if you move to 21 it makes it much more difficult."

According to the "Tobacco 21" report by the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland Policy Group (RCPI), experimentation with smoking is highest among teenagers between the ages of 15 and 17.

The report said that raising the minimum legal age for the sale of tobacco products in Ireland would reduce the number of teenagers and young adults who become addicted to tobacco and could cut smoking rates by 25% among young teenagers.

According to the RCPI, around 4,500 people die in Ireland each year from the effects of smoking, making it the single biggest contributor to early death. Thousands more suffer from smoking-related diseases, including heart disease, lung disease, and cancers.

Further legislation is planned to ban disposable vapes, address issues around flavours of vapes and the bright colours of vape packaging.

Last year, the Government introduced a ban on the sale of nicotine inhaling products such as e-cigarettes, also known as vapes, to children.

From this September, there will also be curbs on advertising on public transport and near schools as well as a ban on sales at events attended by children.