Michael Collins (Cork South West, Independent)
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362. To ask the Minister for Health his views on whether the practice of water fluoridation should be discontinued in view of the cost and the fact that his Department has on many occasions put off medical treatment and services for sick persons and downgraded hospitals due to a lack of funds and resources; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22776/17]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The Health (Fluoridation of Water Supplies) Act, 1960 provides for the fluoridation of public piped water supplies. 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). Preliminary results from the research project "Fluoride and Caring for Children's Teeth" (FACCT), which is being conducted by UCC and supported by the HSE, indicate that children's oral health has been improving overall and that 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 annual cost of water fluoridation is approximately €4 million. Cessation of this policy would not lead to savings but to increased costs associated with the treatment of tooth decay. There are no plans to discontinue water fluoridation, which continues to be a key element of public health policy.