The Health Research Board wishes to sincerely thank all the CLAPAI members who have taken part in our study so far. The study has continued to expand with over 1, seek 000 families presently involved. The more people we have in the study the more valid our research findings will be. The study aims are to find out what causes clefts and to investigate how clefts can be prevented from occurring. Without the valuable input from families, we would no...

Eddie Byrne has succeeded Ruairí Ó Dúlaing as Chairperson of the Cleft Lip and Palate Association of Ireland.Ruairí­ has stepped down as Chairperson after 7 years. Many of you will know Ruairí­ from various events and from telephone support. Those of you that do and were not present at the recent AGM will agree with the sentiments expressed on the night regarding Ruairí’s excellent contribution to the work of the Association. The incoming...

The Association’s AGM took place on the evening of Thursday, 16th October, in the William Stokes Building, St. James’s Hospital, Dublin 8.The AGM was preceded by addresses from our two guest speakers, Ms. Helen Smith from the UK organisation Changing Faces, and Ms. Laura Fingleton, the newest addition to the national committee of the Association.

The Speech and Language Therapy Department in the Childrens’ University Hospital Temple Street are delighted to announce that Dr. Triona Sweeney has been appointed adjunct Professor in Speech and Language Therapy by the University of Limerick. This is a joint Academic/Clinical Specialist post and is the first professorship in the Allied Health Professional group to be attached to a teaching hospital.

Stickler Syndrome is a RARE condition associated with Cleft particularly Pierre Robin. It affects areas of the body where there is cartilage for example joints. There are only 12 diagnosed cases in Ireland.Whilst there is a newly formed support group for Stickler Syndrome ethically they cannot be given families’ names and so making contact is difficult. If you are one of those families and would like to join the group please contact Theres...

Though one could say twelve months behind schedule, ask it is nevertheless good to see the additional course places recommended by the Bacon Report finally come on stream. Together with the already existing 25 or so places available at Trinity College, treat Dublin, These additional places see the number of graduates taken in rise from 25 to nearly 100 annually.