Ossian Smyth (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Pringle for raising this issue. My colleague, the Minister of State with responsibility for disabilities, Deputy Anne Rabbitte, remains committed to the continued development and enhancement of our disability services through the implementation of both the HSE’s progressing disability services, PDS, roadmap for service improvement from 2023 to 2026 and the Department’s action plan for disability services from 2024 to 2026.

As the Deputy will be aware, foetal alcohol spectrum disorder is a prevalent yet preventable neurodevelopmental condition. It is a group of disorders caused by prenatal alcohol exposure and it is associated with a range of lifelong physical, mental, educational, social, and behavioural difficulties. FASD is caused by the consumption of alcohol at any time from six weeks before conception, by either parent, until the baby is born. Many people do not know or recognise that they are living with FASD.

The most recent available figures from the HSE estimate the prevalence of FASD in Ireland is between 2.8% and 7.4% of the population. An estimated 600 Irish babies are born each year with foetal alcohol syndrome, with a further nine to ten times this number of babies born annually in Ireland who have other foetal alcohol spectrum disorders, FASDs. Only a small proportion of children with FASD have visible facial features, or facial dysmorphia. The majority of children with FASD have no visible signs of disability at birth, and difficulties may not manifest until preschool or school age. Currently, there are no standard diagnostic policies or guidelines for diagnosing or treating children with FASD in Ireland.

FASD Ireland was established in September 2021 with three core aims: to raise awareness of FASD, to reduce the prevalence of FASD, and to support people living with FASD. The Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, was pleased to endorse the launch of the FASD Hub Ireland in March 2023. This important support service provides a national telephone helpline operating Monday to Friday evening between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. for anyone who lives with FASD, anyone who cares for someone living with FASD, and anyone who works with someone living with the condition

The HSE has recommended that a number of actions are implemented to prevent FASD. Many of these actions are currently being progressed, and some new actions are proposed that will require resourcing, such as the development of a national strategy on FASD prevention and response in Ireland. The Minister of State was pleased to secure ring-fenced funding of €3 million in budget 2024 for targeted services for children, which will allow a number of projects to be progressed in line with the HSE approval process. The HSE has confirmed that €200,000 is being made available to the HSE’s regional executive officer, REO, in the mid-west, in order for FASD Ireland to support an action in the HSE 2024 service plan to deliver a foetal alcohol project using a multicare health sector approach, that is, primary care, mental health services and so on.

The Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, has met FASD Ireland and can confirm that the regional executive officer will make arrangements for a grant agreement with the organisation. I wish to assure the House that both the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, and officials in her Department are committed to working with colleagues in the Department of Health, alongside other stakeholders, to ensure that the issue of foetal alcohol spectrum disorder is considered a priority and to see that services are delivered in an appropriate manner.

See this speech in context