Vol. 536 No. 1
8 Mr. McCormack asked the Minister for Public Enterprise the reason the promised grants scheme to reduce the effects of radon gas in houses has not been introduced; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13231/01]
The radon remediation grant scheme, approved by the Government in September 2000, is due to commence in the second half of this year and wind up in 2010. A financial allocation has been included in my Department's Vote in respect of the scheme in 2001.
A steering committee, comprising my Department, the Departments of Finance and the Environment and Local Government and the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland, is currently drawing up the terms and conditions and administrative arrangements for the scheme which will be finalised shortly.
The purpose of the scheme is to assist householders who have high levels of radon in their houses to undertake the necessary radon remediation works. The scheme will be administered by the RPII and will apply to private and local authority houses and to houses provided by voluntary housing organisations. Grant assistance will represent 50% of the total cost of the remediation work, subject to a maximum grant of £800 per household. I am hopeful that the scheme will encourage householders with high radon concentration levels in their homes to undertake the appropriate remediation works.
(Mayo): Does the Minister of State accept that we can be forgiven for being sceptical regarding the intention to introduce this grant scheme? It is almost two years since a newspaper article entitled Grants Considered for Radon Gas Protection was published on 27 July 1999. This is 10 May 2001 and we are still being promised grants.
What was the delay in introducing these grants? It has been established that any house with over 200 cubic becquerels of radon is a danger to the health of the occupants. Is the Minister of State not aware that 150 people die each year from lung cancer caused by radon gas? Is he not aware that a model for such a scheme exists in other countries which is guaranteed in terms of ensuring the welfare, safety and health of occupants? Can we have a definite date for the introduction of these grants?
There is no need for the Deputy to be sceptical any longer as the scheme is going ahead. The money is in place for the first time ever. I acknowledged previously in the House that we built on the good work of the last Government, particularly Deputy Stagg's work in formulating this scheme. However, Deputy Stagg presumably experienced the same difficulty as others in convincing the Department of Finance that money should be provided. The Department has now been convinced of this need.
I have long stated that I was determined to introduce this scheme. I am grateful to the Minister, Deputy O'Rourke, for her support in putting the scheme in place. We are gratified that the scheme is in situ and that it will proceed along with other measures regarding radon. In addition to this scheme, in the second half of the year we plan to run an important and necessary public awareness exercise so people will be aware of the possible deleterious effects of radon and so that more people will avail of this excellent scheme.
It should be put on the record that the Minister of State said he would obtain funding for this scheme and he has done so by hook or by crook. The RPII has identified the high risk areas which should be targeted first in the promotion of the grant scheme. A scheme should be immediately put in place for testing individual houses. The RPII carries out such work but this should be promoted now so individual houses can be tested so that if they are above the limit, they can apply for the grant when introduced.
The Minister of State described this as an excellent scheme. However, does he agree that this is a matter of life and death? Grant aid of 50% is not enough, the figure should be 100%.
We modelled the scheme on that introduced by the Deputy's party in Government.
The Minister of State has not improved it and he has more money available to him.
We would all wish to make the kind of resources referred to by the Deputy available to the public. Enough is never enough.
The facility already exists whereby, for a nominal cost, any householder can ask the RPII to carry out an assessment. I agree with Deputy Stagg's suggestion. We have to make the public even more aware of what is involved, and that is why I welcome this kind of debate. It again sends out the message that it is, as Deputy Stanton said, a potential killer.
It is like cigarettes.
The public awareness exercise will be comprehensive and I hope it will ensure a large drawdown of the grant.
