John Lahart (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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697. To ask the Minister for Health if he will report on fluoride in water and the research the Government relies upon that justifies the use of fluoride in water. [13504/17]

John Lahart (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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698. To ask the Minister for Health the reason Ireland is not in the majority of countries that continue to use fluoride in their drinking water systems. [13505/17]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 697 and 698 together.

The Health (Fluoridation of Water Supplies) Act, 1960 provides for the fluoridation of public piped water supplies. The local authorities, acting on behalf of Irish Water, act as agents for the HSE in providing, installing and maintaining equipment for fluoridation and in adding the fluoride to water and testing the fluoride content of water to which fluoride has been added.

Water fluoridation is the adjustment of the natural concentration of fluoride in drinking water to the optimal recommended level for the prevention of dental caries (tooth decay). Many countries have water fluoridation schemes, including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Spain, Australia and New Zealand. Water fluoridation is less common in Europe. However, fluoride is an essential part of oral health policy in all countries in Europe. This can mean fluoridation of salt or provision of community fluoridation through other means.

Water fluoridation is a key element of public health policy in Ireland in the prevention and management of tooth decay.

A research project "Fluoride and Caring for Children's Teeth" (FACCT) is being conducted by UCC and supported by the HSE. Preliminary results indicate that children's oral health has been improving overall since the previous survey of children's oral health in 2002. Fluoridated communities continue to have lower levels of tooth decay than non-fluoridated communities. The results of this research project are due to be published this year.

The Department of Health keeps the policy of water fluoridation under constant review. As part of this ongoing work, a review of evidence on the impact of water fluoridation at its current level on the health of the population was conducted by the Health Research Board (HRB) on behalf of the Department. This review was published by the HRB in June 2015. The HRB has found no evidence that community water fluoridation is associated with negative health effects.

The Irish Expert Body on Fluorides and Health was established in 2004, to oversee the implementation of the recommendations of the Forum on Fluoridation Report. The Body monitors new and emerging issues on fluoride and its effects on health and related matters. It advises that the balance of scientific evidence worldwide confirms that water fluoridation, at the optimal level, is a safe and effective method of protecting the oral health of the population.

Now that the Forum recommendations have been implemented, I have decided to appoint a new Expert Body on Fluorides and Health with new Terms of Reference. Expressions of interest will be sought in the near future. The Body will have a key role in advising me on all issues relating to the fluoridation of public water supplies and its impact on other aspects of policy.