Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 2 June 2004
22 Mr. Cuffe asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the action he intends to take in view of the alarmingly high levels of radon in Irish homes; and if he will reintroduce a grant system to assist those wishing to fit radon barriers to their homes. [16603/04]
View answer40 Mr. Stagg asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he intends to provide funding for the radon remediation grant scheme in view of the threat to householders identified in the recent survey of the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland which found some of the highest concentrations of radon gas ever found in a number of houses surveyed in Castleisland, County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16529/04]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 22 and 40 together.
As previously indicated, it would not be practicable in current budgetary circumstances to provide Exchequer funding for a radon remediation grant scheme in respect of domestic dwellings.
Following the identification in July 2003 of a house in Castleisland with radon concentration levels of approximately 49,000 Bq/m3, the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland, RPII, undertook a survey of houses in the area. This involved the RPII writing to 2,500 householders in the four national grid squares adjacent to the town of Castleisland advising them to have radon measurements carried out in their homes. Of those, 413 householders, 16%, requested measurements and results, now available for 377 of these, indicated that 52,14%, have radon concentrations above the national reference level of 200 Bq/m3. Six had concentrations above 1,000 Bq/m3. Radon measurements were also completed in respect of 90 local authority homes in Castleisland, none of which were found to have radon concentrations in excess of the national reference level. While some houses have high radon concentration levels, the majority, over 90%, of houses nationwide would have radon concentrations below the national reference level.
The RPII has always advised householders, particularly those living in high radon areas, to have their homes measured for radon, and where necessary has also advised householders to have remediation works carried out. Over the years, the Government, through the RPII, has committed significant resources to assessing the extent of the radon problem throughout the country and to increasing public awareness of radon. During the years 1992 to 1999, the RPII carried out a national survey of radon in domestic dwellings aimed at assessing the extent of the radon problem in homes. The survey involved the measurement by the RPII of radon for a 12 month period in a random selection of homes in each 10 km by 10 km grid square throughout the country. The RPII's website contains a comprehensive map of the high radon areas in Ireland as well as the report of its national survey of radon in homes.
Upgraded building regulations, introduced in June 1997, require all new houses commencing construction on or after 1 July 1998 to incorporate radon protection measures. In February 2002, my Department published a booklet entitled, Radon in Existing Buildings — Corrective Options, advising designers, builders and home owners on remediation options for reducing radon in existing houses to, or below, the national reference level of 200 Bq/m3.
In recent months, the RPII has undertaken several initiatives to further heighten awareness of the radon issue in Ireland. Both the institute and my Department will continue to use all appropriate opportunities to raise public awareness of radon and to encourage householders with radon concentrations above the reference level to undertake remediation works.
