The Radiological Protection Act, 1991 (General Control of Radioactive Substances, Nuclear Devices and Irradiating Apparatus) Order, 1993 (S.I. No. 151 of 1993) provides for the control by licence of the custody, transportation, handling, storage, use, manufacture, production, processing, importation, distribution, exportation, or other disposal of radioactive substances, nuclear devices or irradiating apparatus. Protocol and procedures governing the control of such materials by all persons and organisations, including educational institutions, are provided for in a licensing system administered by the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland. A particular requirement of the licensing system is that each institution appoints a suitably qualified radiological protection officer, who will have local day-to-day responsibility for the supervision of the procedures followed within the institution. Statutory Instrument No. 151 of 1993 also completed the implementation of Council Directive 80/836/EURATOM of 3 September 1984 laying down the basic safety standards for the health protection of the general public and workers against the dangers of ionising radiation.
I am satisfied that the present arrangements in place ensure that all sources of radioactivity in educational institutions do not pose a hazard to people or property.