Vol. 500 No. 6
15 Proinsias De Rossa asked the Minister for Public Enterprise her views on the chairman's statement in the 1997 annual report and accounts of the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland where the introduction of a grant based scheme for radon remediation works to houses is strongly urged; the plans, if any, there are to introduce this scheme in 1999; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4573/99]
I refer the Deputy to my response to Question No. 19 on 10 December 1998 and to Question No. 107 yesterday.
I am aware of the views of the chairman of the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland in relation to the introduction of a radon remediation grant scheme. However, as I mentioned in my reply to the above Dáil questions, there are no funds available for such a grant scheme in 1999. Furthermore, the question of funding such a scheme next year is not under consideration at present.
I reiterate to the House that while the Government is not in a position to provide direct financial assistance to householders, every effort is being made to address the problem of high radon levels in dwellings. The Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland's national radon survey, which has been ongoing since 1992, is due to be completed shortly. To date, the institute has published the results of this survey in respect of 24 counties. The results in respect of the remaining two counties, Mayo and Galway, are expected to be available in April. The survey, when completed, will give a comprehensive picture of the areas of the country regarded by the institute as being high radon areas. This survey has been complemented by recent radon preventative measures introduced by the Minister for the Environment and Local Government and local authorities in the form of technical guidance documents relating to the consolidated National Building Regulations, 1997. The guidance calls for radon protection measures to be taken in the construction of all new houses from 1 July 1998.
The institute also carries out at the request of householders, and for a small fee, a radon measurement service. All householders whose homes have been identified under the institute's national survey or radon measurement service as having high radon levels have been so advised by the institute.
The RPII has also initiated, at the request of the Minister for Education and Science, a survey of ground floor radon levels in respect of primary and secondary schools in Ireland. This survey, which commenced in September, will be carried out over the next three school years.
The above approach is a measure of the Government's efforts to create an awareness of radon and to tackle the problem of high indoor radon levels in dwellings and schools.
