Silent epidemic of foetal alcohol spectrum disorder 'coming down the road at us fast and furiously'

It is estimated about 600 babies are born with foetal alcohol spectrum disorder every year in Ireland.

The Government is being urged to recognise foetal alcohol spectrum disorder as a disability by a support group which warns it is a silent epidemic “coming down the road at us fast and furiously”.

In recent answers to parliamentary questions about the disorder, Minister of State with responsibility for disabilities, Hildegarde Naughton, said that FASD is not deemed a disability in Ireland and said responsibility for it falls under the Department of Health’s (DOH) Health and Wellbeing unit.