New laws that ban drivers from smoking when children are in the car are to come into force on New Years Day.

A formal announcement is to be made by Health Minister Leo Varadkar and Children's Minister James Reilly tomorrow - but this station understands the commencement date will be January 1st.

The laws were passed by the Oireachtas a year ago but Gardaí were given time to work out how they would be enforced.