Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 10 October 2007
315 Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he has received confirmation regarding dangerous levels of radon gas at any or many locations throughout the country or in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23152/07]
View answerThe Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland (RPII) carried out a nationwide survey of radon gas in domestic dwellings between 1992 and 1999. The survey involved the measurement of radon for a 12-month period in a random selection of homes in each 10 km x 10 km grid square throughout the country. The results of the survey were used to predict the percentage of houses in each grid square with radon concentrations in excess of 200 Becquerels per cubic metre (Bq/m3), which is the National Reference Level in respect of houses. Grid squares where this percentage is greater than 10% are designated as High Radon Areas and such grid squares exist in every county. The RPII's website, www.rpii.ie, contains a comprehensive map which shows the location of High Radon Areas throughout the country. County radon maps and survey results can be viewed also on that website by clicking on the county by name. The RPII has measured over 30,000 homes in Ireland since establishing its radon measurement programme in the early 1990s. The following table gives summary results of the radon measurements carried out in each county up to 31 July 2007:
|
Number of houses in categories of radon concentration |
|||||
|
County |
Number of houses measured |
0-199 Bq/m3 |
200-999 Bq/m3 |
>1000 Bq/m3 |
Highest concentration of radon found (Bq/m3) |
|
Carlow |
644 |
528 |
114 |
2 |
1,725 |
|
Cavan |
341 |
330 |
11 |
0 |
780 |
|
Clare |
2374 |
2,061 |
286 |
27 |
2,980 |
|
Cork |
3,518 |
3,211 |
300 |
7 |
2,309 |
|
Donegal |
1,000 |
952 |
48 |
0 |
512 |
|
Dublin |
2,086 |
1,957 |
128 |
1 |
1,410 |
|
Galway |
4,320 |
3,455 |
816 |
49 |
3,434 |
|
Kerry |
2,859 |
2,470 |
323 |
66 |
49,000 |
|
Kildare |
913 |
867 |
45 |
1 |
1,114 |
|
Kilkenny |
842 |
740 |
99 |
3 |
2,444 |
|
Laois |
469 |
452 |
17 |
0 |
565 |
|
Leitrim |
278 |
262 |
15 |
1 |
1,630 |
|
Limerick |
970 |
895 |
72 |
3 |
1,857 |
|
Longford |
254 |
236 |
18 |
0 |
552 |
|
Louth |
500 |
434 |
66 |
0 |
751 |
|
Mayo |
2,885 |
2,419 |
452 |
14 |
6,203 |
|
Meath |
652 |
594 |
58 |
0 |
932 |
|
Monaghan |
233 |
218 |
15 |
0 |
794 |
|
Offaly |
399 |
387 |
12 |
0 |
495 |
|
Roscommon |
501 |
450 |
50 |
1 |
1,387 |
|
Sligo |
1,293 |
986 |
279 |
28 |
5,508 |
|
Tipperary |
1,455 |
1,305 |
139 |
11 |
2,394 |
|
Waterford |
920 |
724 |
177 |
19 |
3,023 |
|
Wexford |
1,200 |
1,034 |
160 |
6 |
2,926 |
|
Westmeath |
467 |
425 |
42 |
0 |
699 |
|
Wicklow |
1,482 |
1,236 |
230 |
16 |
16,438 |
|
Total |
32,855 |
28,628 |
3,972 |
255 |
According to the RPII, County Kildare is not considered to be a high radon area with the exception of a very small area in the south of the county. To date, the RPII has carried out 913 radon measurements in homes in County Kildare. Of these, 46 were found to be above the National Reference Level of 200 Becquerels per cubic metre (Bq/m³), with the highest level being 1,114 Bq/m³ in a house in Naas.
