Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
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Question 77: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the extent of dental fluorosis here; her views on whether fluoridation of the public water supplies is a cause or the primary cause; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3640/06]

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
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Question 78: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the measures her Department is taking to regulate the overall intake of fluoride through the public water supplies and other sources; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3641/06]

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
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Question 79: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if the first of many recommendations by the forum on fluoridation, namely, the lowering of the fluoride level in drinking water to a range of 0.6 to 0.8 parts per million, with a target of 0.7 parts per million, has been acted on by her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3642/06]

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
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Question 80: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if, in view of the growing health concerns regarding the whole fluoridation process, she will revisit the question of adding fluoride to the public drinking water supply; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3643/06]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 77 to 80, inclusive, together.

The Health Act 2004 provided for the Health Services Executive, HSE, which was established on 1 January 2005. Under the Act, the executive has responsibility to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. That includes responsibility for fluoridation.

Fluoridation of public water supplies as a public health measure is accepted as being one of the most effective methods of ensuring against tooth decay. The World Health Organisation, WHO, recommends fluoridation of public water supplies and has stated that "fluoridation of water supplies, where possible, is the most effective public health measure for the prevention of dental decay." The WHO has also stated that "people of all ages, including the elderly, benefit from community water fluoridation".

The recently completed survey of oral health, covering the whole island, shows that fluoridation of public water supplies continues to be a highly effective public health measure. It has contributed significantly to a major reduction in the incidence of dental decay in the Republic of Ireland. That compares favourably with the incidence of dental decay in Northern Ireland, which has significantly higher rates of dental decay and which does not have fluoridated water supplies.

The oral health survey also shows that fluoridation of public water supplies has a significant impact on dental decay in disadvantaged areas. The gap in decay between non-disadvantaged and disadvantaged areas in the Republic of Ireland is significantly less than the gap between such areas in Northern Ireland.

The research carried out shows that, at the levels of usage of fluoride in the Republic of Ireland's public water supply, there is no risk to health. Fluoridation of the water supply in Ireland is limited to a maximum of one part per million. In that regard, the WHO and the European Union have identified that fluoridation levels below 1.5 parts per million are acceptable.

The Forum on Fluoridation recognised that there had been some increase in the incidence of mild dental fluorosis in Ireland. Most dental fluorosis is detectable only by dentists. The forum, while recommending that fluoridation of water supplies continue, recommended a reduction in the levels of fluoride used from between 0.8 parts per million and 1 part per million to between 0.6 parts per million and 0.8 parts per million.

The Irish Expert Body on Fluorides and Health was set up in 2004. The terms of reference for 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 emerging issues — on all aspects of fluoride and its delivery methods as an established health technology and as required; and to report to the Minister on matters of concern at his or her request or on its own initiative.

As part of its work in implementing the recommendations of the forum, the expert body examined the question of what amendments may be required to the regulations, under the Health (Fluoridation of Water Supplies) Act 1960, to give effect to the forum's recommendation to reduce the level of fluorides in the public water supplies. The expert body has reported its findings to my Department. My Department is currently taking the necessary steps to introduce a new regulation.

A research project on fluoride delivery systems, which includes an investigation into fluoride intake in the Irish population, was undertaken at the Oral Health Services Research Centre, OHSRC, in University College Cork on behalf of the Department.

As part of that project, the OHSRC developed methods to be used when measuring fluoride ingestion in the population. One of the areas of research pursued was the development of standardised methods for measuring fluoride content of samples of saliva, urine, serum, fingernail clippings and mineralised tissues. Those studies were undertaken in close collaboration with researchers in Europe and the US to make sure that the methods being used conform to international standards. The results of that research and proposals for any future research are a matter for consideration by the Irish Expert Body on Fluorides and Health.