Tristan Casson-Rennie Chief Executive Officer FASD Ireland. Photograph: Natasha Barton.
ONE OF Clare’s newest councillors is leading the campaign to have Foetal Alcohol Syndrome (FASD) officially recognised by the HSE.
FASD is a lifelong condition that occurs when a foetus is exposed to alcohol during pregnancy, resulting in potential damage to the child’s developing brain and body.
Despite being the most prevalent neurodevelopmental condition in Ireland, FASD is not officially recognised by the Health Service Executive (HSE), leaving families without the necessary support systems, diagnostic guidelines, and treatment pathways.
Ireland is the only developed country where FASD is not acknowledged as a neurodevelopmental disorder. This lack of recognition has significant consequences for those affected, as there are currently no standard diagnostic policies or treatment protocols in place. As a result, many children and families struggle to access the support they need, and the condition remains largely misunderstood in both medical and public health circles.
Cllr James Ryan (SF) is urging Clare County Council to collaborate with FASD HQ, a non-profit organisation based in Ennis, to spearhead a national campaign aimed at having FASD recognised as a formal disability in Ireland.
“There is currently no pathway or support system in place for those living with FASD in Ireland,” Cllr. Ryan said. “There is no public health campaign, and most people don’t even know that this condition exists. We need to raise awareness, implement clear diagnostic guidelines, and provide comprehensive support to families who are affected”.
At the January meeting of the County Council, Cllr Ryan proposed organising a workshop in which members of the FASD hub in Ennis will provide a presentation to the County Council to inform the councillors of the real life impacts of the neuro-developmental disorder. This workshop would be the first step in a campaign led by the County Council to help make FASD an officially recognised disorder within the HSE.
Voicing her support for the proposed campaign, Cllr Clare Colleran Molloy (FF) commented, “This is a very important motion. We have the headquarters here in Ennis and I can’t see why we shouldn’t lend our support to projects like this”.
FASD is estimated to affect approximately 240,000 people in Ireland, making it the second most prevalent neurodevelopmental condition in the country, after autism. With Ireland having the third-highest prevalence of FASD in the world, following South Africa and Croatia, the need for action has never been more urgent.
