Gay Mitchell
Ceist:576 Mr. G. Mitchell asked the Minister for Health and Children his views on the fluoridation of the water supply. [24595/00]
Written Answers. - Water Fluoridation.
The safety and effectiveness of water fluoridation as a public health measure have been evaluated frequently by the World Health Organisation and other reputable authorities, such as the Health Research Council of the United States, and concerns about adverse health effects have not been substantiated. In October 1999, the faculty of public health medicine of The Royal College of Physicians of Ireland issued a report which endorsed the safety and effectiveness of water fluoridation. All the reputable scientific evidence confirms the safety of fluoride when it is available in public piped water supplies at the optimal levels. These levels are the same as those required under the Health (Fluoridation of Water Supplies) Act, 1960.
Nevertheless I considered it timely to set up a forum on fluoridation with terms of reference as follows: to review the fluoridation of public piped water supplies and the programme of research being undertaken on behalf of health boards in the area; and to report and to make recommendations to the Minister for Health and Children.
The forum is comprised largely of persons with expert knowledge spanning the areas of public health, dental health, food safety, environmental protection, ethics, water quality, health promotion. Environmental interests have been invited but so far have declined. The forum will invite submissions from the public. The forum has already met on a number of occasions under the chairmanship of Professor Pat Fottrell. I hope to have an interim report from the forum by the end of this year.