Vol. 573 No. 3
694 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for the Environment Heritage and Local Government the reason the Radiological Protection Institute indicates that radon cannot be taken out of water; and the further reason this has been done in other countries and not here. [25402/03]
The RPII did not claim that radon cannot be removed from drinking water. It advises that when water is found to contain high levels of radon there are remediation options available. At their most simple these options include boiling the water prior to use. This results in the release of the dissolved radon and, consequently, such water does not pose a radiological health risk if used to make tea or coffee or as part of cooking.
In February the RPII published a report entitled Radon in Drinking Water in County Wicklow – a Pilot Study. It summarised the state of knowledge concerning the removal of radon from drinking water and the efficiency of the two different systems commercially available in other countries. Filtration systems are prone to the accumulation of radioactivity and for that reason aeration is recognised internationally as the preferred option for removing radon from domestic water supplies. The RPII is working closely with Wicklow County Council on the implementation of internationally recognised techniques for the remediation of drinking water supplies containing high radon concentrations.
695 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for the Environment Heritage and Local Government the reason European recommendations in relation to radon levels have not been transferred into Irish law. [25403/03]
I assume that the Deputy's question refers to Commission Recommendation 90/143/EURATOM of 21 February 1990 on the protection of the public against indoor exposure to radon. Commission recommendations are not binding on member states. In 1990, arising from the recommendation, the Government, acting on the advice of the RPII, adopted a national reference level of 200 bqm³ for buildings above which remedial action to reduce the indoor radon gas level in a dwelling should be considered. No other member state has adopted a lower reference level.
A national reference level of 400 bqm³ for workplaces was enshrined in Irish law in the Radiological Protection Act 1991 (Ionising Radiation) Order 2000. It gave effect in Ireland to Council Directive 96/29/EURATOM of 13 May 1996. It laid down basic safety standards for the protection of the health of workers and the general public against the dangers arising from ionising radiation.
In 1997 Ireland was among the first European countries to introduce specific building regulations and related technical guidance on radon prevention in new buildings. The national Building Regulations 1997 and the 1997 Technical Guidance Document C (Site Preparation and Moisture Resistance) require radon prevention measures in new buildings. They use the national reference level of 200 bqm³ as the target for new houses. In July my Department published a draft amended technical guide for comment. It also uses the NRL of 400 bqm³ for workplaces. Definitive amended guidance, taking account of comments received, will be published in early 2004.
