Vol. 491 No. 6
56 Mr. Stagg asked the Minister for Public Enterprise the discussions, if any, she has held with the Department of Finance with a view to securing finance in 1998 to introduce a radon remediation grants scheme to assist householders in undertaking radon remediation works on their dwellings in view of the strong performance of State finances in the first quarter of 1998; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12810/98]
I sought to have provision for funding made in the context of my Department's 1998 Estimates submission. As part of the framing of the 1998 Estimates, discussions and correspondence did take place with the Department of Finance on a radon grant scheme. However, in the light of Exchequer commitments and overall budgetary constraints, it was not possible to make provision for such a scheme this year.
While the Government is not in a position to provide direct financial assistance to householders in the current year, every effort is being made to address the problem of high radon concentrations in dwellings. The Government is taking action on a number of fronts. First, the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland — RPII — is continuing to concentrate considerable resources on its national radon survey which is aimed at identifying areas at greatest risk of high indoor radon levels. The institute's survey, which has been carried out in respect of 19 counties to date, is due for completion early next year.
