Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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To ask the Minister for Health regarding the fluoridation of the water supply, the frequency with which the fluoridated water is tested for overdosing and or underdosing; the number of times the water has been found to be over the limit; the number of times the water was found to be under the limit; if it is hydrofluorosilicic acid that is used to fluoridate the water supply; the amount in total used per year during the process of fluoridation; the sources for the hydrofluorosilicic acid used; if he will provide the environmental impact studies, health studies and safety studies that have taken place since fluoridation was introduced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50835/12]

Alex White (Dublin South, Labour)
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Under The Fluoridation of Water Supplies Regulations 2007, water services authorities are required to arrange for the testing, on a daily basis, of the fluoride content of water to which fluoride has been added. The water services authorities have regard to the Code of Practice on the Fluoridation of Drinking Water 2007 published by the Expert Body on Fluorides and Health to ensure effective and efficient implementation of the technical aspects of the fluoridation of drinking water. The water services authorities also measure the quantity of hydrofluosilicic acid used plus the quantity of water treated in order to calculate the concentration of hydrofluosilicic acid in the water. The HSE undertakes monthly sampling of tap water and can access the daily records of the water services authorities if an issue arises regarding fluoridation levels.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) collects and analyses the monitoring results carried out by water services authorities on drinking water supplies. The most recent EPA report on 'The Provision and Quality of Drinking Water in Ireland' (2010) includes information on water supplies where fluoride parametric values are exceeded. Of the 3,398 samples from public water supplies which were analysed, 74 were above the Irish statutory requirements of 0.8mg/litre. All but one of these elevated levels was below the EU standard of 1.5mg/litre. The EPA is not required to collect data where fluoride parametric values is below the statutory requirement. I have asked the HSE to collate this information and I will forward it to the Deputy when it is available.

Hydrofluosilicic acid is used to fluoridate public water supplies. The amount used for 2009, 2010 and 2011 was over 3.9 million litres each year and up to the end of August 2012 was at over 2.6 million litres. Hydrofluosilicic acid is derived from fluorspar and sourced in Spain.

Water fluoridation is one of the most widely studied public health policy initiatives in the world. There have been a number of relevant WHO documents, notably "Fluorides and Human Health", Monograph Series 59 (1970), WHO Geneva; "Fluorides and Oral Health", Technical Report Series No. 846 (1994), WHO Geneva; and "Environmental Health Criteria 227 FLUORIDES", (2002), WHO Geneva. More recently, the review by the EU Scientific Committee on Health and Environmental Risks (SCHER, 2011) considered the environmental impact of water fluoridation.

Oral health studies carried out in Ireland include O’Mullane DM, McCarthy D (1981) "Dental Health Status and Dental Knowledge Attitudes and Behaviour in Irish Adults" (Journal of the Irish Dental Association); National Survey of Adult's Oral Health 1990; National Survey of Adult's Oral Health 2001; North South Survey of Children’s Oral Health 2002; Comber et al (2011) "Drinking water fluoridation and osteosarcoma incidence on the island of Ireland".

International reviews include "The York Review – A systematic review of public water fluoridation: a commentary" (2002) Treasure et al; The Report of the Forum on Fluoridation (2002); "A systematic review of the efficacy and safety of fluoridation" (2007) Australian Government. All of these publications are in the public domain.

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. 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.