Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 365: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the reason that foetal alcohol syndrome, partial foetal alcohol syndrome, alcohol related neurodevelopmental disorder and alcohol related birth defects are still not notifiable conditions here. [10288/11]

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 366: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the number of newborns, older infants, toddlers, children and adolescents diagnosed as having foetal alcohol syndrome each year in the last decade; the number diagnosed as having partial foetal alcohol syndrome; the number diagnosed as having alcohol-related neurodevelopmental disorder and the number diagnosed as having alcohol-related birth defects. [10289/11]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 365 and 366 together.

The 1981 Infectious Diseases Regulations have been revised on a number of occasions between 1985 and 2007 and only infectious diseases are notifiable under this legislation. Therefore Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) does not fall within the scope of this legislation.

Although FAS is a specific diagnosis, there are many features that need to be present, as well as a history of pre-natal alcohol intake.For these reasons the diagnosis of FAS is difficult and is frequently either misdiagnosed or unconfirmed.

There is no National Register for Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD). Therefore, the numbers of cases of Foetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS), Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) and Alcohol Related Neurodevelopmental Disorder (ARND) in Ireland are unknown. This reflects the situation in many countries in Europe.

The Health Service Executive (HSE) provides information for the EUROCAT Congenital Anomaly Register. In the Eastern Region the HSE has reported that only one or two cases are identified per year.This is believed to under report the number of actual cases.

A study partly funded by the Health Service Executive, has commenced in the Coombe Women's hospital in Dublin, aimed initially at screening women for alcohol intake in pregnancy with a view to counselling them accordingly. In the next number of years, an extension of the study is planned to estimate the number of FAS cases diagnosed over a specific time period.