No data on impact of alcohol on foetus

DESPITE awareness of our national binge drinking culture, no data has been collected in this country on the number of children adversely affected by alcohol consumption during pregnancy.

Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Ireland, the support group for those affected by the syndrome, has said there is a reluctance among doctors to link maternal drinking with behavioural and cognitive problems later in life.

The Department of Health has confirmed, in a response to a Dáil parliamentary question, that they have no data collated on the extent of Foetal Alcohol Syndrome.