Paudge Connolly (Cavan-Monaghan, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 126: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if, in view of the fact that her Department recently expressed concern at being outfoxed by dental care providers in relation to charges, her attention has been drawn to the fact that the professional body of most practising dentists, the Irish Dental Association, has no official opinion on fluoridation, whereas the Dental Health Foundation, which is Government-funded, makes numerous statements on its website suggesting that water fluoridation is essential to good oral health; the amount of public moneys being spent by the Dental Health Foundation in promoting this policy, in view of the fact that virtually every other EU country is at variance with the foundation's unreserved support for water fluoridation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5868/05]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The forum on fluoridation was established to carry out a review of the fluoridation of public water supplies in Ireland. The forum consisted of people with expert knowledge spanning the areas of public health, biochemistry, dental health, bone health, food safety, environmental protection, ethics, water quality, health promotion and representatives from the consumer and environmental areas. The forum took an evidence based approach to its examination of water fluoridation. The forum produced a comprehensive and conclusive report which it presented in 2002. In its report the forum set out a number of conclusions and made a number of recommendations with respect to the fluoridation of public piped water supplies in Ireland. The main conclusion reached by the forum was that the fluoridation of public water supplies should continue as a public health measure. The forum also recommended the establishment of an expert body to implement the forum's recommendations.

The Irish expert body on fluorides and health held its inaugural meeting in April 2004. The terms of reference of the expert body are to oversee the implementation of the recommendations of the forum on fluoridation; to advise the Minister and evaluate ongoing research — including new emerging issues — on all aspects of fluoride and its delivery methods as an established health technology and as required; to report to the Minister on matters of concern at his or her request or on its own initiative. The expert body will oversee the implementation of the wide-ranging recommendations of the forum and advise me on all aspects of fluoride in the future.

The Dental Health Foundation was established more than 20 years ago as a charitable trust dedicated to raising the profile of oral health in Ireland. Its establishment was initiated by the dental profession with the agreement and support of the Department of Health. The foundation plays an important role in facilitating and supporting the promotion of oral health in line with the Department's 1994 dental health action plan. It works closely with the Department's health promotion unit, providing a focus for oral health within the wider context of health promotion in Ireland. In 2004, my Department provided funding of €120,500 to the Dental Health Foundation in its role providing the secretariat for the Irish expert body on fluorides and health.