Cork City Council opens planning enforcements against a number of vape shops in the city

It comes after the Taoiseach Micheál Martin said local authorities must look at 'the multiplicity of vape shops on a given street'

Independent Ireland councillor Noel O’Flynn has also asked the council to review the increase and clustering of businesses like vape and phone shops, after he counted 23 on Patrick Street and Oliver Plunkett Street alone. File picture: Frank O’Connor/#DerelictIreland

Cork City Council has opened planning enforcement files against several vape shops that are subject to ongoing investigations.

City councillors have said the Taoiseach’s call to curb the proliferation of vape shops through planning legislation will require a change to the law if the local authority is to effectively tackle the problem.

Micheál Martin said at the Fianna Fáil think-in this week that local authorities must look at “the multiplicity of vape shops on a given street” and that this could be addressed from a “planning perspective”.

Labour’s Peter Horgan supports the commitment to tackling the problem, saying: “We have allowed an industry to develop where brightly coloured, heavily marketed products are placed right in front of young people.” 

In April 2025, Mr Horgan called on the council to come down harder on vape shop displays, many of which he said go against the council’s shop front policy, and in March this year, he proposed the HSE look at restricting the sale of vaping products to pharmacies only.

“Councils cannot do this alone. We need national legislation," he said.

Independent Ireland councillor Noel O’Flynn has also asked the council to review the increase and clustering of businesses like vape and phone shops, after he counted 23 on Patrick Street and Oliver Plunkett Street alone.

In June, the council’s director of planning and integrated development, Niall Ó Donnabháin, said that, in 2026 so far, 17 enforcement files had been opened, and warning letters were issued to eight businesses.

However, Mr Ó Donnabháin explained that current planning law only allows the council to tackle shopfronts and signage, and as the law does not differentiate between a vape shop and other types of stores, planning permission is not required to change from one type of retail shop to another.

Asked about the status of the enforcement files, Cork City Council said it had open cases subject to ongoing investigation, but said it “does not comment on open planning enforcement files”.

Mr O’Flynn also welcomed the Taoiseach’s recent comments, but added: “If the Government wants local authorities to control the proliferation of vape shops, then it must first give them the legal power to do it.

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“The solution cannot simply be passed down to City Hall when the legislation preventing councils from acting is national legislation.” 

Councils need a specific provision in national planning legislation allowing a local authority to determine whether a particular retail use is appropriate, taking account of similar businesses already in that area, he said.