Following a survey of schools in County Sligo, high levels of radon gas have been found in the west. As a result, the Department of Education and Science offered free radon testing to schools in the county. However, this was at the discretion of school principals and, unfortunately, not all schools were tested.
The parents' committee became concerned about this matter when they discovered that remedial work had not been carried out in the schools. They found it difficult to gather information on what was happening and how their children might be affected. This was how the idea of a survey came about.
Following testing, the Department of Education and Science recommended that remedial work should be carried out in all schools with radon levels above 150 becquerels per cubic metre. This work was carried out in 25 schools. The work involved the laying of pipes under the floors of rooms carrying high levels of radon. These pipes were connected to pumps fitted on an external wall. The pumps extract the gas from under the building where it gathers. In schools where remedial work was recommended, the Department contracted companies to carry out the work. The Department funded 85 per cent of the work and the balance was funded by the schools. The survey uncovered some interesting facts.
What has happened since the remedial work began in the schools in 1993-4? The Department recommended that remedial work be carried out in all cases where radon levels were above the set limit of 150 becquerels per cubic metre. No detailed specifications were supplied to the boards of management, teachers or parents regarding the detection equipment. What is now recommended is that the Department should ensure that this vital information is made available to schools since the health of children and teachers should be of primary concern.
The second finding was that no maintenance was carried out on the radon extraction equipment supplied. The survey also showed that schools were unaware if the pumps were working. It is recommended that a planned programme of maintenance checks carried out by suitably qualified personnel must be put in place by the Department of Education and Science as a matter of urgency.
Some schools are switching off the extraction pumps during holidays and the research indicates that a build up of radon is virtually guaranteed within the classrooms when the pumps are switched off. It is recommended that the Department should issue an immediate instruction to all schools not to switch off the radon extraction pumps and that it should consider aiding the running costs of the pumps.
The survey also discovered that information on radon in schools was difficult to obtain — it is not held in any one location. The Department of Education and Science, the Office of Public Works and the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland had all to be contacted. It is recommended that the Department should co-ordinate information from the different areas. This could keep all those involved in education fully informed on the up-to-date research. There should be an internet site with this information. Such a site would provide information to the public while allowing teachers to use the internet to educate children about radon and its effects.
The highest level of radon found in any school was 1,363 bqms — ten times above the agreed level. The lowest level was 26 bqms. The Department recommends remedial work in 25 schools. One school with the highest level of radon had no remedial work carried out to date. The bulk of remedial work was carried out during 1993-94 and the average cost was £600 per classroom. In addition, a number of schools turned the pumps off during the school holidays, which is of major concern.
Fifty per cent of all schools that had bad remedial work carried out have had no further testing done to ascertain if the work was successful and the radon concentrates reduced to safe levels. Very few principals could tell the level of radon in their schools. More than two thirds were unable to give the results of the radon testing. Three schools found that their pumps were not working and had to be replaced. This is a serious issue and the Minister should give the necessary instructions. I appreciate the huge contribution of the Department to the installation of the pumps. It is important that there is ongoing supervision of maintenance, that information is made available and that the teacher concerned is fully aware of how to access the information to assure parents that the level of radon in County Sligo schools is safe.
A survey was carried out in 25 schools in County Sligo. I appeal to the Minister to carry out a complete check of all schools in the county.