Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 11 October 2023
232. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if there is an ongoing collection of data regarding the relationship between pregnancy outcome indicators and alcohol consumption patterns during pregnancy; if he plans to establish a national register for foetal alcohol spectrum disorder; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44431/23]
View answer233. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if there are plans to develop clear clinical guidelines for the diagnosis of foetal alcohol spectrum disorder; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44432/23]
View answer234. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the concerning prevalence of foetal alcohol spectrum disorder in Ireland, along with the absence of dedicated health messaging addressing this issue; if there are plans in place to initiate a new public health awareness campaign outlining the dangers of alcohol consumption, and discouraging its use during pregnancy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44433/23]
View answer236. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the current strategies in place to ensure clinical staff receive sufficient training in foetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) to seek information on the efforts being made to enhance awareness of FASD among healthcare professionals and educators; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44435/23]
View answer237. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the measures being taken to ensure that individuals with foetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) and their families have access to FASD-informed services in healthcare, education and social services tailored to their specific needs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44436/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 232, 233, 234, 236 and 237 together.
Foetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) is a public health issue arising from the consumption of alcohol during pregnancy. FASD is a group of disorders caused by prenatal alcohol exposure and are associated with a range of lifelong physical, mental, educational, social, and behavioural difficulties.
Effective actions to prevent FASD include public health measures targeting the price, availability and accessibility of alcohol, pregnancy warning labels on alcohol products, communications campaigns, routine screening and brief interventions by healthcare professionals, healthcare supports for pregnant women, training and professional development supports for staff, and research and public health surveillance. Timely diagnosis and treatment for children with FASD is required.
The HSE position and action plan on foetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) is outlined here - HSE Position on Prevention of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders. It has appointed a Clinical Lead for FASD Prevention. It has published health messages on the topic here
HSE urges alcohol-free pregnancy on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) Awareness Day - HSE.ie
Alcohol during pregnancy - HSE.ie
I have asked the HSE to respond to the deputy directly on progress in implementing its action plan and the specific queries that the deputy has set out.
Question No. 233 answered with Question No. 232.
Question No. 234 answered with Question No. 232.
