asked the Minister for Health whether, following on the survey of dental caries and the introduction of fluoride into the water supply in the Dublin, Kildare and Wicklow areas, he intends in the near future to carry out any such survey or take any such action with regard to water supplies in other areas of the country, and if so, what areas; and when he expects to carry out any such action.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Water Fluoridation.
4.
It is my intention that a survey of the incidence of dental caries among school children and analyses of water supplies should be carried out in each health authority area for the purposes of the Health (Fluoridation of Water Supplies) Act, 1960.
The field work in connection with a survey of the incidence of dental caries has been completed in the Cork, Limerick, Waterford, Wexford, Louth, Laois and Galway health authority areas by the Medical Research Council's team; the team is at present working in County Tipperary and will visit County Kilkenny after the school summer holidays. Analyses of public piped water supplies have been completed in respect of the Cork, Limerick and Waterford health authority areas and analyses are at present being carried out for Counties Louth, Wexford and Laois; arrangements are being made to have the supplies in Counties Galway, Tipperary and Kilkenny analysed in the near future.
I hope to receive the results of the caries surveys in the Cork, Limerick and Waterford Health Authority areas from the Medical Research Council very shortly. I shall present to both Houses a report on those surveys and on the analyses of the waters in those areas as soon as possible. Reports in respect of the areas where surveys have been completed or are in progress will similarly be presented as they become available.
The dental caries surveys and analyses of water supplies for other health authority areas will be undertaken immediately the surveys in the areas where they are already in progress are completed, but it is not feasible at this stage to indicate further detailed arrangements.
As the reports become available in respect of each area consideration will be given to the making of regulations providing for the fluoridation of water supplies in the areas concerned.