375. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health whether her Department has assessed the case for mandatory folic acid fortification of staple foods, in view of Ireland's rates of neural tube defects remaining among the highest in Europe; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53760/26]

I wish to advise the deputy that the Minister for Public Health, Wellbeing and the National Drugs Strategy, Jennifer Murnane O’Connor TD has today (13/07/2026) launched an online public consultation seeking the views and opinions of the public and industry on the proposed mandatory fortification of non wholemeal flour with folic acid, to help reduce the incidence of neural tube defects ( e.g. spina bifida, anencephaly, encephalocele, iniencephaly) in Ireland.

Please refer to the link below for the public consultation.

[]www.gov.ie/en/department-of-health/consultations/mandatory-fortification-of-flour-with-folic-acid-public-consultation/