Vol. 494 No. 2
68 Mr. Stagg asked the Minister for Public Enterprise the discussions, if any, she has had with the Department for Finance with a view to securing finance in 1999 to introduce a radon remediation grant scheme to assist householders in undertaking radon remediation works on their dwellings; her views on whether this scheme should be introduced in view of the excellent state of public finances; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17860/98]
As the Deputy is aware, I previously sought to have provision for funding made in the context of my Department's 1998 Estimates submission. However, in light of Exchequer commitments and overall budgetary constraints, it was not possible to make provision for such a scheme this year.
As to grant aid being provided in 1999, this is being considered in the context of the 1999 Estimates. Pending the conclusion of discussions on the Estimates and the publication of the Estimates for 1999, I can make no commitment about the availability of funding for a radon grant scheme in 1999.
Is the Minister of State aware that radon gas in Irish homes is responsible for the death from lung cancer of 200 people per year, according to medical research? Is he further aware that a minimal amount of money is required for the remediation grant scheme I set up and for which I secured funding during my term of office as Minister of State? The scheme would have given 50 per cent remediation grants to householders, up to a maximum of £800 per house. Will the Minister of State tell the House something more than simply claiming that the Government does not have the money? The Government is awash with money from taxpayers and this scheme would be some return to the taxpayer where this problem arises.
The Government is aware of the health hazard which exists as a result of high levels of radon. Dr. McLoughlin of the physics department in UCD recently concluded that radon might be implicated in approximately 150 lung cancer deaths each year or 10 per cent of the total number of such deaths. The RPII constantly emphasises this fact and its concern, and the Government is not taking its advice lightly.
I aspire, as my predecessor did, to act on this issue but he, too, had difficulties with finance. He was not in a position to pay out money despite his aspiration. I am now in the same position. However, every effort will be made to deal with this matter in other areas and hopefully it will be possible to provide direct assistance.
Is the Minister of State aware that on 24 April 1997 the Government approved a scheme of grants and the required funding for that year and subsequent years? The grants were relatively modest but 500 houses per year could have been given the attention they required. Is the Minister of State further aware that the cost of treating a lung cancer patient who is terminally ill is much higher than the cost of preventing that patient getting the disease in this context in the first instance? Will he make the case again to the Department of Finance, where I was told at one time that people who needed grants should sell their television sets if they were concerned about the matter? I won that argument with the Department and got Government approval for the grants. Will the Minister of State go back and explain to the Department that it should be concerned about the 200 people per year who are dying of lung cancer — I certainly am — because it is costing it more to give money to the Department of Health and Children to treat people with lung cancer than it would cost to prevent them getting it in the first place?
The Deputy's point is well taken. I have been endeavouring to make that point. The professional advice is more or less in line with what the Deputy is saying. We will endeavour to——
Is the Minister supporting the Minister of State?
May I continue without interruption? A number of measures have been and are being taken to accentuate the Government's concern and awareness of the situation. The RPII is continuing to concentrate considerable resources on the radon survey. The institute's survey, which has dealt with 21 counties to date, will be completed early next year. The survey's findings will continue to be published so that the public is aware of the situation.
A range of Departments is dealing with this matter. To portray the concern of the Government, the Minister for the Environment and Local Government has published revised technical guideline documents related to the Consolidated National Building Regulation, 1997, which calls for radon protection measures to be taken in the building of all new houses commencing on or after 1 July 1998.
The Deputy will know the Minister for Education and Science has asked the RPII to carry out a comprehensive survey on schools to ensure problems with radon are identified. That Minister will also assist schools in carrying out remedial measures which may be necessary as a result of the RPII's findings. There is an awareness towards which we are working.
I appreciate the work the Deputy has done on this subject in the past and I appreciate his support and exhortations on the matter.
I thank the Minister of State for his kind remarks. I assure him of my full support and encouragement in trying to get back what was lost in the last budget when the Government abolished this grant scheme.
Is the Minister of State aware that every county survey carried out so far has shown pockets of radon gas with a lethal limit in houses? Is he aware that is deadly for the people living in those houses? Is he also aware of the difficulty and danger of the multi-faceted approach proposed by the Department of Finance to dissipate the Department of Public Enterprise's energy in the matter so that everybody, but nobody, is responsible? I urge the Minister of State not to fall into that trap. Is he aware of the latest report — which will be in the news because various Members of the House will support their candidates in the forthcoming by-election there — that 10 per cent of houses in Cork city are estimated to have a level of radon gas that is lethal to those living in them?
I urge the Minister of State not to take no for an answer and I urge the Minister to take similar action. He must fight at the Cabinet table for the limited amount of money required to prevent people being killed in their houses by radon gas. Up to 200 people per year die because of it.
To reiterate, the Government is aware of the situation in Cork, which is one of the 21 counties that has been surveyed thus far. The results have been published and are in the public arena. I hope public awareness will contribute towards raising the necessary air of urgency about this issue so that it can be comprehensively addressed.
