Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Question 134: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the statutory basis for water authorities adding fluoride to water; the levels of fluoridation for each water authority; the limits within which water authorities must contain fluoridation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6652/05]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The statutory basis for the fluoridation of public piped water supplies is the Health (Fluoridation of Water Supplies) Act 1960 and various regulations made under the Act. The Act provides for the making by health authorities of arrangements for the fluoridation of water supplied to the public by sanitary authorities through pipes. The Act also provides that the amount of fluorine to be added to a water supply shall not exceed one part by weight of fluorine per million parts of water.

The Health Act 2004 provided for the Health Service Executive, which was established on 1 January 2005. Under the Act, the executive has the responsibility to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. This includes responsibility for the levels of fluoridation for each water authority. Accordingly, my Department has requested the chief officers in the HSE to investigate the matter raised and to reply directly to the Deputy.