Paudge Connolly (Cavan-Monaghan, Independent)
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Question 273: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children her views on whether the €2.2 million cost of distributing iodine tablets to households here was justified; the length of time the tablets will maintain their efficiency; if she proposes to repeat the exercise; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19964/05]

Seán Power (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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In 2002, as part of the National Emergency Plan for Nuclear Accidents, 12.6 million tablets were distributed by post to households across the country, a packet of six tablets to each household. A further 1.6 million tablets were distributed to health boards for persons who did not receive a supply of tablets or who did not receive a sufficient number of tablets via the postal distribution. The tablets had an expiry date of March 2005.

A representative sample of tablets was tested recently to determine whether the expiry date could be extended. The results indicate that the tablets have maintained their efficacy. A public notice was placed in national newspapers in March 2005 advising people to continue to store the tablets in a cool, dry place in their original sealed packaging, out of the reach of children.

In recent years the threat to Ireland has significantly reduced due to the closure of a number of the older reactors in the UK, in particular the Calder Hall reactors at Sellafield. A programme of further closures over the next five years is planned.

A review group established by my Department, chaired by Dr. Barry McSweeney, chief science adviser to the Government, is currently examining the continued use of iodine tablets as a countermeasure under the national emergency plan for nuclear accidents. One of the issues being considered is the projected expiry date of the tablets. The group has had two meetings to date and is expected to make its recommendations later in the year.