John Gormley
Question:91 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Health and Children the costs involved in the fluoride forum to date; if he will provide a breakdown of all the costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30937/01]
Written Answers. - Forum on Water Fluoridation in Ireland.
I established the fluoridation forum in May 2000. It 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 and representatives from the consumer and environmental areas.
The forum's terms of reference are 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 to the Minister. The forum has invited submissions from the public.
The forum's interim report, which is available on its website www.fluoridationforum.ie, gives details of its progress. The chairman of the forum has informed me that he expects to present a report to me in the near future.
The budget for the forum for the year 2001 is £220,000 or 279,342. Its expenditure to date is approximately £185,000 or 234,902 on items such as advertising, printing costs for questionnaires, travel and subsistence, freepost licence, room hire and catering.