Bread could be fortified with folic acid to give Irish babies a better chance of being born without spina bifida.

Equality for people with disabilities is the focus at today's AGM of the Irish Association for Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus.

THE number of children with devastating birth defects could be cut by 70% if the Government allowed folic acid to be added to flour, medical experts have said.

A simple remedy which can considerably reduce the occurrence of a major congenital condition and has been proven to have done so in other countries should not meet any resistance at governmental level here.