John Deasy
Question:98 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for Health and Children if the external audit procedures of fluoridation plans have been put in place as recommended by the forum on fluoridation. [6895/04]
View answerWednesday, 3 March 2004
Questions (24)
Written answers
The use of fluoride technology is known to manifest a positive oral health outcome. Local and national surveys and studies conducted since the introduction of fluoridation in this country attest to the reduced dental decay levels in children and teenagers in fluoridated areas compared with those residing in non-fluoridated areas. The safety and effectiveness of water fluoridation has been endorsed by a number of international and reputable bodies such as the World Health Organisation, the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, the United States Public Health Service and the United States Surgeon General.
As the Deputy is aware, I established the forum on fluoridation to review the fluoridation of public piped water supplies in Ireland. The forum's report was launched on 10 September 2002, and its main conclusion was that the fluoridation of public piped water supplies should continue as a public health measure. The forum also concluded that: water fluoridation has been very effective in improving the oral health of the Irish population, especially of children, but also of adults and the elderly; the best available and most reliable scientific evidence indicates that, at the maximum permitted level of fluoride in drinking water of one part per million, human health is not adversely affected and dental fluorosis, a form of discoloration of the tooth enamel, is a well-recognised condition and an indicator of overall fluoride absorption, whether from natural sources, fluoridated water or the inappropriate use of fluoride toothpaste at a young age. There is evidence that the prevalence of dental fluorosis is increasing in Ireland.
The forum consisted of people with expert knowledge spanning the areas of public health, biochemistry, dental health, bone health, food safety, environmental protection, ethics, water quality, health promotion and representatives from the consumer and environmental areas. That diversity of professional backgrounds and representation was reflected in the comprehensive way in which the forum conducted its work and research. Ultimately the forum took an evidence-based approach to its examination of water fluoridation.
The report of the fluoridation forum made 33 recommendations covering a broad range of topics such as research, public awareness, and policy and technical aspects of fluoridation. The establishment of the expert body recommended by the forum is now well under way.
The terms of reference of the expert body are: to oversee the recommendations of the forum on fluoridation; to advise the Minister and evaluate ongoing research — including new emerging issues — on all aspects of fluoride, its delivery methods and as an established health technology and as required; and to report to the Minister on matters of concern, either at his or her request or on its own initiative.
The expert body will have broad representation, including from the areas of dentistry, public health medicine, toxicology, engineering, management, the environment and the public identified in the forum on fluoridation report. Letters of invitation have been issued to prospective members of the body. I am pleased to say that, based on the acceptances which have been received, the body will have strong consumer input through members of the public and representatives of consumer interests, in addition to the necessary scientific, managerial and public health inputs. My Department is discussing the chairpersonship of the expert body, and I expect to be able to announce a decision in that respect very soon.
I am pleased that the secretariat of the body will be provided by the Irish Dental Health Foundation, an independent charitable trust which has been very much to the fore in securing co-operation between private and public dentistry and the oral health care industry regarding joint oral heath promotion initiatives. The foundation's stature and expertise place it in an excellent position to support the work of the forum in its initial stage. As the House is aware, the forum's report envisages that the work of the expert body may be subsumed into the health information quality authority in due course. The support of the foundation allows us to press ahead now with the establishment of the expert body in advance of the establishment of HIQA. Indeed, I understand that the intention is to have an inaugural meeting of the expert body in early April.
The expert body will oversee the implementation of the wide-ranging recommendations of the forum — including the one to which the Deputy referred — and advise me on all aspects of fluoride; in particular, ongoing research related to fluoride will continue to be evaluated by the expert body and expanded to deal with emerging issues.