Written answers

Tuesday, 9 June 2009

Department of Health and Children

Water Quality

8:00 pm

Photo of Phil HoganPhil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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Question 135: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if her attention has been drawn to the public concern in relation to fluoride concentration in drinking water; if she is proposing the monitoring of this fluoride concentration; the equipment that is available to carry out automatic on-line monitoring and automatic fail safe shut down systems; her views on whether it is appropriate to introduce that type of equipment in order to allay public concerns in relation to fluoride concentration and to avoid overdosing the product in drinking water supplies to comply with Health and Safety Authority regulations 2007 regarding chemicals application; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22641/09]

Photo of Mary HarneyMary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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All fluoridated public water supplies are monitored on a monthly basis by the Environment Health Officers (EHOs) and an analysis of the water samples is undertaken by the Public Analyst laboratories. New supplies are sampled on a fortnightly basis for the first 6 months and monthly thereafter. Any deviations from the relevant standard are notified to the relevant local authority for corrective action.

My Department established the Forum on Fluoridation in 2002. Its main conclusion was that the fluoridation of public piped water supplies should continue as a public health measure. One of the recommendations of the forum was to amend the Fluoridation of Water Supplies Regulations 1965 to redefine the optimal level of fluoride in drinking water from 0.8 to 1.0 parts per million (ppm) to between 0.6 and 0.8ppm. I signed regulations in 2007 to give legal effect to this change.

On foot of a recommendation from the forum, The Irish Expert Body on Fluorides and Health was set up in 2004 to oversee the implementation of the recommendations of the forum; to advise the Minister and evaluate ongoing research - including new emerging issues - on all aspects of fluoride and its delivery methods and to report to the Minister on matters of concern. The Expert Body has produced a Code of Practice to ensure efficient and effective implementation of the technical aspects of the fluoridation of drinking water by all personnel involved. This Code of Practice has been sent to all local authorities. Furthermore, the Expert Body has also appointed consulting engineers to undertake a national audit of the water fluoridation process at water treatment plants in Ireland.

My Department does not hold any details in regard to the equipment, either currently in use or that which it is planned to use, in water treatment plants. This is a matter for the relevant local authorities.

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