Vol. 514 No. 6
315 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Education and Science the steps, if any, he will take to deal with a situation where a recent study carried out by the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland found that more than 200 schools had excess levels of radon; and the locations of these schools. [5150/00]
In 1998 my Department commissioned the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland, RPII, to carry out a survey of radon levels in all primary and post-primary schools in the country. The survey, which is being conducted in three phases, involves recording the concentration of radon gas present in a school over an academic year.
The RPII recently issued results to the schools that participated in the first phase of the survey. This phase covered schools in counties Carlow, Cavan, Kildare, Kilkenny, Louth, Meath, Monaghan, Westmeath, Wexford and Wicklow.
I have directed my Department to take immediate steps to appoint consultants to devise remediation programmes for schools showing levels in excess of the national reference level, with priority being given to the cases of greatest need.
A total of 175 schools, spread across these counties, showed radon levels in excess of the national reference level with 13 schools showing levels that require immediate mitigation. A consultant has already been engaged to advise in relation to this task. Five schools have been inspected by the consultant who is preparing a remediation programme for each. This is expected to be ready shortly. The remaining eight of these 13 schools will be inspected by the consultant in early March.
Remediation programmes for the remaining less-affected schools will be drawn up, with priority being given to the areas of greatest need, following the appointment of a consultant. In this regard it is necessary that the contract for the appointment of an expert to advise on mitigation in the remaining schools requiring attention be advertised in the EU Journal in compliance with public procurement procedures. It is anticipated that an expert will be appointed in the near future.
All schools have received information on radon and will be kept informed of new developments.
My Department will meet the cost of mitigation.
