Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 13 November 2013
116. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to introduce an obligation for homeowners to test their properties for the presence of radon; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48525/13]
View answer118. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will introduce a grant aid scheme to address the widespread high incidents of radon gas in homes, particularly in County Kerry where one home has been found with 26 times the acceptable level of the cancer causing radon gas, and of the 446 homes tested in the past year, one in six homes have radon levels in excess of the acceptable level; if he will take into consideration that homes are being devalued and all households are subject to the local property tax, and if he will immediately introduce a scheme to assist hard-pressed householders as the average cost of installing a system to address the problem is in the region of €850, with an annual running cost of €100; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48531/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 116 and 118 together.
The Government’s approach to radon, which is similar to that in the majority of EU Member States, is to concentrate efforts on increasing public awareness of the risks posed by radon in the home. Through support for the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland’s radon advice and awareness work, my Department is supporting efforts to raise public awareness of the risks posed by radon. Householders, particularly those in known high radon areas, have been strongly encouraged to have their homes tested for radon and to undertake remediation works where necessary.
Since 1998, the Building Regulations require all new buildings to incorporate radon protection measures at the time of construction. In October 2004, an updated edition of Technical Guidance Document C on Part C of the Building Regulations ( Site Preparation and Resistance to Moisture ) was published, incorporating enhanced radon prevention measures for new buildings commencing on or after 1 April 2005. This guidance document is aimed at ensuring that radon protection measures are carried out more effectively. Copies of the guidance documents are available on my Department’s website – www.environ.ie.
If a dwelling is found to have a high radon level, remediation work may be recommended. Technical guidance on radon remediation techniques is available in a booklet issued by my Department, Radon in Buildings - Corrective Options , which is also available on my Department’s website. The RPII has also issued guidance, Understanding Radon Remediation - A Householders Guide, available on the Institute’s website at www.rpii.ie, together with a list of companies who can provide a radon remediation service and offer specific advice and recommendations. In addition, the RPII can be contacted for radon advice on free-phone 1800 300 600.
A working group from a number of Government Departments and Agencies, including the RPII and the Health Service Executive, is currently finalising a report on the development of a national radon strategy which will shortly be presented to me. I understand the report will make a series of recommendations regarding increasing awareness of radon. There are no plans at present to establish a scheme of grant assistance for radon remediation.
