COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

South Dublin County Council Crest

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, December 08, 2014

QUESTION NO. 18

QUESTION: Councillor D. O'Brien

To ask the Chief Executive for a report on the cost to SDCC to put fluoride in the water supply in 2012, 2013 and 2014. Now that Irish water has been set up is this cost now the responsibility of Irish water or does SDCC still pay for this?

REPLY:

Fluoride is added to drinking water at water treatment plants. Historically this has been done by Local Authorities on behalf of the HSE, who fund the fluoridation of drinking water.

As there are no water treatment plants located within the SDCC area, there was no cost to SDCC for the addition of fluoride to water supplies.

Irish Water now has responsibility for the drinking water supply, however we anticipate that the HSE will continue to fund the cost of adding fluoride to drinking water supplies.

Nationally, approximately €3.86m (2011) is spent on water fluoridation annually.