Brendan Griffin (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
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Question 650: To ask the Minister for Health if he is sure that the fluoridation of public water supplies does not have a negative impact on human health; if he can point to any research to support the case for the continuation of this practice; if his attention has been drawn to the research that highlights adverse effects of fluoridation on public health; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11342/12]

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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The Forum on Fluoridation, which reported in 2002, advised that the fluoridation of piped public 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 0.8 ppm. Regulations were introduced in 2007 to give legal effect to this change.

The Irish Expert Body on Fluorides and Health, established in 2004, has among its functions to evaluate all new and emerging issues on fluorides and health. The Expert Body advises that the balance of scientific evidence worldwide confirms that water fluoridation, at the optimal level, does not cause any ill effects and continues to be safe and effective in protecting the oral health of all age groups. The report of the EU Scientific Committee on Health and Environmental Risks (SCHER), published in June 2011, has not made any findings of negative health or environmental effects concerning fluoridation of water. There are no plans to discontinue the policy of fluoridation of public water supplies, which continues to make an effective contribution to oral health in Ireland.