Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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Question 863: To ask the Minister for Health his views on correspondence regarding fluoridation of drinking water (details supplied). [26370/12]

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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The correspondence to which the Deputy refers concerns a questionnaire on water fluoridation and a recently published report. Allegations of ill health and potential damaging effects of fluoridation are contained in the report and are reflected in many of the assumptions in the questionnaire. The Expert Body on Fluorides and Health has concluded that the report is not reliable. The Expert Body's Appraisal and an Executive Summary of the Appraisal are available on the Expert Body's website, www.fluoridesandhealth.ie.

Fundamentally the Expert Body maintains that there continues to be overwhelming evidence that water fluoridation significantly benefits dental health and through this, benefits overall health. The Expert Body is satisfied having studied current peer reviewed scientific evidence worldwide that water fluoridation causes no ill effects to the health of adults or children. 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.