Around 14 people will die every day during 2016 as a result of smoking, however thousands of people are attempting to quit the habit as part of their New Year resolutions, the HSE has said.

It noted that over 20,000 smokers will make an attempt to quit smoking this week alone and over 1,000 of these have already signed up for the HSE's QUIT programme, which offers advice and support to quitters over a 12-month period.

According to Dave Molloy, the HSE's National Tobacco Lead, major progress has been made in this area over the last year.

"In March 2015, the HSE announced the largest annual drop in smoking prevalence in Ireland since 2009, where we saw the proportion of the population who are smokers reduced by two percentage points, or an estimated 70,000 smokers. Later in 2015, the Healthy Ireland Survey confirmed that just 19.5% of the population are daily smokers," he explained.

However, he pointed out that there are still around 700,000 smokers in Ireland and one in two of these will be killed by the habit if they do not quit.

"Some 5,200 smokers will die in 2016, which is 100 family funerals each week, or 14 each day. Those numbers are shocking and there are few better reasons to make a quit attempt this year. Whether it's your first attempt, or you're a seasoned quitter, the HSE's QUIT Team is a free service that is here to help, and whose support will double your chances of success," Mr Molloy insisted.

The QUIT programme involves trained advisors who can provide advice and support in a number of ways, including via phone, text, Facebook and Twitter. There are also a number of face-to-face quit services nationwide, which provide one-to-one and group support for quitters.

Mr Molloy noted that around 70% of smokers want to quit and support from fellow quitters can help.

"As well as our support service, we've created a new community section on our website and Facebook page for 2016, which connects quitters to people who have walked the same road and can offer stories, advice and motivation to keep going, or try again," he said.

If you would like to quit smoking or would like more information about what is involved, click here, call 1800 201 203, text 50100, join the Facebook page here or tweet @hseQUITteam