Jim Higgins
Ceist:31 Mr. Higgins (Mayo) asked the Minister for Public Enterprise the official radon safety level; the latest available radon readings for the five Connacht counties; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7702/99]
Written Answers. - Radon Gas Levels.
Róisín Shortall
Ceist:49 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Public Enterprise if she will introduce a radon remediation grant scheme for householders in view of the completion of the national radon survey; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9156/99]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 31 and 49 together.
In 1990, the Government adopted an annual average indoor radon concentration of 200 becquerels per cubic metre as the national reference level for dwellings. Above this level, the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland has recommended that remediation measures should be taken to reduce the indoor radon concentration level.
The Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland has been conducting a national radon survey since 1992. The aim of this survey is to identify areas at greatest risk of high indoor radon levels. Survey results have been published by the institute for 24 counties to date, including counties Sligo, Leitrim and Roscommon. Results in respect of counties Galway and Mayo will be published shortly.
The survey results for counties Sligo, Leitrim and Roscommon show that approximately 20, 5 and 8 per cent respectively of houses surveyed were above the reference level. To put these figures in context, published figures show that of the 8,437 houses surveyed nationally to date under the Institute's survey, 7.5 per cent were found to be above the reference level. However, it should be borne in mind that indoor radon levels show significant geographical variations, even within individual counties, and the institute's survey has shown that there are pockets of high radon concentration in every county.
As regards the question of introducing a radon remediation grant scheme, I refer the Deputy to my previous reply of 18 February 1999. The position as set out in that reply remains unchanged.