Jim Higgins
Question:1209 Mr. Higgins (Mayo) asked the Minister for Education and Science the radon levels recorded at Aghamore national school, Ballyhaunis, County Mayo; and the established safety levels in relation to radon measurement. [1704/02]
Written Answers. - Radon Gas.
My Department commissioned the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland, RPII, to conduct a survey of radon levels in primary and second level schools in 1998. A programme of radon mitigation work has followed the results of the survey. To date an amount just in excess of 1.454 million has been paid in respect of the cost of survey and mitigation work.
The radon reference set for the workplace under the Radiological Protection Act, 1991 (Ionising Radiation) Order, 2000 – Statutory Instrument 125 of 2000 – is 400 Bq/mf7>3. The levels in the school in question were 430 Bq/mf7>3, 379 Bq/m3 and 250 Bq/mf7>3. A radon mitigation system is now in place. All schools in which any radon mitigation action is taken are offered post-mitigation testing.