Vol. 446 No. 1
116 Dr. O'Hanlon asked the Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications if there was an increase in the level of radon in houses in County Cavan and County Monaghan; if so, the extent of such increases; and the advice if any, he would give to people who live in houses with increased levels of radon. [1691/94]
During 1992, a geographiclly-based national survey, which will run over several years, was initiated by the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland. Radon measurements will be made in over 6,000 homes nationwide and statistical evaluation of the results will allow the percentage of houses above 200 Bq/m³ reference level in each national grid square to be predicted. All measurements are for a 12 month period and, once completed, will identify any areas at particular risk from indoor radon.
In the course of this survey, measurements have been carried out in 139 houses in County Cavan and 90 houses in County Monaghan. The analysis has not yet been completed for the Cavan and Monaghan results. However, preliminary results indicate that seven houses, 5 per cent, in Cavan and four houses, 4 per cent, in Monaghan had radon concentrations above the reference level. The incidence of houses with radon concentrations above the reference level does not differ greatly from the estimated national average of 4 per cent.
