The Forum on Water Fluoridation in Ireland was established to carry out a review of the fluoridation of public water supplies in Ireland. The forum produced a comprehensive and conclusive report which it presented in 2002. In its report the forum set out a number of conclusions and made a number of recommendations with respect to the fluoridation of public piped water supplies in Ireland. The main conclusion reached by the forum was that the fluoridation of public water supplies should continue as a public health measure. The forum also recommended the establishment of an expert body to implement the forum's recommendations.
The expert body, to be known as the Irish expert body on fluorides and health, was set up earlier this year. The terms of reference of the expert body are to oversee the implementation of the recommendations of the forum on fluoridation; to advise the Minister and evaluate ongoing research, including new emerging issues, on all aspects of fluoride and its delivery methods as an established health technology and as required; to report to the Minister on matters of concern at his-her request or on its own initiative.
Responsibility for the fluoridation of public water supplies is a matter for the health boards-authority in the first instance. I have, therefore, requested the CEOs of the health boards-authority to reply to the Deputy's question directly.
