Ms Edel Browne:

I recently spoke to someone in the statistics office in the HSE. It is alarming that since 2009, the numbers of neural tube defects has started to increase, whereas there had been a decrease between 2004-05 and 2007. I know the number of births has also increased in that time. Is it related to folic acid? Research has been carried out in Trinity College and more research involving Temple Street Hospital and Trinity College is commencing, but it is only starting now. It is very hard to carry out a complete folic acid study because it is necessary to take into account the weight of the parent and the family history. Much must be taken into account about how a woman absorbs folic acid. To get a full reading on that it would need to be a very big study. I am not the right person to answer that question.