Up to 26,000 people rang the National Smokers' Quitline in the past 14 months, with most calls coming in the run-up to the smoking ban.
The ban was introduced on March 29th and between October 2003 and April 2004, 19,800 people contacted the helpline (1850 201 203). After the ban came into force, calls dropped considerably.
The 26,000 figure is a huge increase on calls received before the helpline was relaunched ahead of the smoking ban. The original helpline attracted about 6,000 callers a year. The rise has been partly attributed to a major multimedia campaign.
The figures were welcomed yesterday by the Irish Cancer Society, which operates the helpline with Department of Health support. Ms Norma Cronin, its tobacco control health promotion manager, said there was still a great need for the helpline and advertising campaigns to encourage more people to quit smoking.
"Smoking is the leading cause of lung cancer, accounting for 95 per cent of lung cancers if you include passive smoking," she said.
Ms Cronin said that in 2002, a national survey found 27 per cent of the population still smoked. "We know there has been a further decline but we don't know by how much. Some people have estimated a 2 per cent drop but it's just a guestimate," she added.
In December, the State's biggest cigarette manufacturer, Gallaher, said sales had fallen by 10.7 per cent in the first 10 months of the year.
Last year's tax take from cigarettes is expected to be down by nearly 18 per cent on 2003.
