Vol. 509 No. 6
312 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Health and Children the studies, if any, undertaken regarding the fluoridation of water; if his attention has been drawn to the revised scientific thinking on the advisability of adding sodium fluoride to drinking water; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21590/99]
The safety and effectiveness of water fluoridation has been re-evaluated frequently in many international studies since 1950 and I am not aware of any reputable studies, including any studies of recent origin, which suggest that fluoridation of public piped water supplies at optimum level would be inadvisable.
A report dated October 1999 on water fluoridation and public health prepared by the Faculty of Public Health Medicine of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland is strongly supportive of the continuation of current water fluoridation policies. My Department continues to monitor ongoing research into the safety of water fluoridation and keeps in touch with discussion in this area at an international level.
