Written answers
Thursday, 13 May 2021
Department of Health
Medicinal Products
Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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458. To ask the Minister for Health when the terms of reference will be published for the inquiry into the prescribing of sodium valproate during pregnancy which he committed to in November 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25411/21]
Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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459. To ask the Minister for Health if he will establish a valproate stakeholder group which would report to his Department to address the ongoing concerns regarding women of childbearing age taking valproate and low awareness of the associated risks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25412/21]
Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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461. To ask the Minister for Health the number of women of childbearing age who are taking sodium valproate; the number of these who are on a pregnancy prevention programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25414/21]
Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 458, 459 and 461 together.
Officials in my Department are considering terms of reference for the proposed inquiry into the historical licensing and use of sodium valproate in Ireland, as well as the establishment of a stakeholder group to address ongoing concerns relating to the use of this drug. The HSE does not collate comprehensive data on the number of women of childbearing age who are taking sodium valproate in Ireland; however, the agency is working to develop a registry to record women who have been prescribed sodium valproate during pregnancy.
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