Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 30 Jan 2001

Vol. 529 No. 1

Written Answers. - Radon Gas Levels.

John Bruton

Question:

1164 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Education and Science if any schools in County Meath were included in the recent survey on radon gas levels; the results of such survey; and the arrangements to carry out remedial measures in these schools to ensure that there is no health risk from radon to students or teachers. [1271/01]

Minister for Education and Science (Dr. Woods)

My Department commissioned the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland – RPII – to conduct a survey of radon levels in schools in 1998. All schools recognised by my Department were invited to participate. The survey is being conducted in three phases. The results of phase one of the survey were released to the participating schools in January 2000. Schools in County Meath were invited to participate in phase one of the survey.

In May last year the Radiological Protection Act, 1991 (Ionising Radiation) Order, 2000, (Statutory Instrument 125 of 2000) gave effect to the most recent revision of the EURATOM Basic Safety Standards Directive (Council Directive 96/29/EURATOM). This sets a national reference level for radon in workplaces of 400 bqMf7>3 over any three month period. If radon exceeds this level an employer must evaluate whether remedial measures should be undertaken and, if so, such measures should be undertaken as soon as is practicable.

Mitigation measures are complete in 13 of the worst affected schools, including two schools in County Meath, that participated in phase one of the survey and post-mitigation testing indicates that the measures taken have been effective. Contracts have been placed to carry out remedial work in a further 20 schools from phase one.

In November last year, the results of phase two of the survey were released to schools in the counties participating in that phase. Phase three of the survey is under way at present and the results are expected late this year.

The RPII advised that 23 of the worst affected schools who participated in phase two should be given priority when mitigation arrangements were being made. An expert in radon mitigation from Cornwall County Council visited ten of these schools in order to draw up specifications for mitigation systems. He will visit the remaining 13 schools in March and May this year. The specifications will be available to enable the systems to be installed in all 23 schools by the summer of this year at the very latest. Arrangements are also being made to have remedial work carried out in another 51 schools with maximum radon levels in one or more rooms in a range between 404 bqMf7>3 and 656 bqMf7>3. It is hoped that more local expertise can be found to specify the remedial measures necessary in these schools.

My Department had previously set a reference level of 200 bqMf7>3 above which remedial measures to mitigate radon levels would be undertaken. This reference level was the same as that above which the Government, in 1990, advised that mitigation measures should be considered in domestic dwellings.

A pilot study of the natural ventilation in ten schools with maximum radon levels of between 200bqMf7>3 and 400bqMf7>3 is under way at present. The purpose of the study is to establish whether passive ventilation systems can be used to mitigate radon levels in this range, as opposed to the mechanical systems that have been, or are in the process of being, installed in the schools with higher levels. The results of the study are expected this month. These will allow my Department to plan a mitigation programme for the schools with maximum radon levels in excess of 200bqMf7>3, but not exceeding 400bqMf7>3. Meanwhile, my Department is advising schools that increasing the natural ventilation in affected rooms, where this can be achieved without discomfort to the users of those rooms, may be effective in reducing the level of radon.