Edward Nealon
Ceist:104 Mr. Nealon asked the Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications if his attention has been drawn to the fact that an assessment in 1992 of 63 primary schools in County Sligo by the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland indicated that over half these schools had radon levels above the reference of 150 becquerels per cubic metre, while in other areas where similar assessments were carried out, only one-twentieth of the schools were above the reference level; that in a population-weighted survey of houses in County Sligo organised by the Physics Department of UCG the average radon levels recorded were twice the national average, with one house recording 1,342 becquerels per cubic metre of air as compared with a reference level of 200 above which the need for remedial action should be considered; that, in all, 16 per cent of the 25 houses where measurements were taken in County Sligo were above the 200 reference level; if, in view of all these findings in the limited surveys to date clearly indicating very significant radon levels right throughout County Sligo with the danger to health implicit in this and with obvious need for remedial action to be taken in houses as is now being undertaken in the schools surveyed, he will consider some special scheme or initiative which would lead to a general scheme of measurement for radon being undertaken and promoted for the county; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
