People trying to kick the smoking habit with e-cigarettes will not be able to use them at hospitals and health centres from May 1st.

The Health Service Executive (HSE) is to ban the use of the devices in all health service facilities, and their use will not be permitted in any HSE building or on any HSE 'Tobacco-Free' campus.

The majority of public hospitals now operate smoke-free campuses, as do many primary care and administrative facilities.

The HSE says the decision follows a detailed review of their safety and the impact of e-cigarettes on the smoke-free campus policy. It also says that there is currently "no conclusive evidence" that e-cigarettes are safe for long-term use, or are effective as an aid to quit smoking.

Smoking is the single leading cause of illness in Ireland, responsible for over 5,200 deaths every year.

All HSE service managers nationwide have been informed of the change and have been advised to implement the policy.

And the HSE National Director of Health and Wellbeing, Dr. Stephanie O'Keeffe, says 'vaping' poses a challenge to enforcing a Smoke-Free Campus policy.

Reaction to the decision has been mixed. The Tobacco Free Research Institute has welcomed the announcement, describing it as 'brave'.

While the smokers' group Forest Eireann has criticised the move, saying there is no evidence e-cigarettes are harmful to the user or anyone else, or evidence that they provide a "gateway to tobacco".

"Banning e-cigarettes demonstrates a disturbing ignorance of human behaviour and is incompatible with the government's goal of a smoke free Ireland" they said in a statement.