Ciarán Cuffe (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party)
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Question 184: To ask the Minister for Health and Children when she will implement the recommendations of the report from the fluoridation forum; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35458/06]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The Forum on Fluoridation was established by the Minister for Health and Children to review the fluoridation of public piped water supplies in Ireland. The main conclusion of the Forum Report was that the fluoridation of public piped water supplies should continue as a public health measure.

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 Forum reported that the re-defined optimal level of fluoride would be sufficient — along with the continued use of fluoride toothpaste — to maintain meaningful reductions in dental decay rates.

In all, the Report of the Fluoridation Forum made thirty-three recommendations covering a broad range of topics such as research, public awareness, and policy and technical aspects of fluoridation and the establishment of an Expert Body to oversee the implementation of the recommendations.

The Irish Expert Body on Fluorides and Health (the Expert Body) was set up in 2004. The membership of the Expert Body is representative of public health interests, consumer interests, the Food Safety Authority, the Environmental Protections Agency, my Department and the Department of the Environment and Local Government.

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 for Health and Children and to evaluate ongoing research — including new 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/her request or on its own initiative.

The Expert Body is overseeing the implementation of the wide-ranging recommendations of the Forum and will advise on all aspects of fluoride.

I will be bringing regulations before the House shortly to bring into effect the Forum's recommendations in relation to the fluoride levels in the water supply.