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Radon Gas Levels

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 2 June 2022

Thursday, 2 June 2022

Ceisteanna (154)

Jennifer Whitmore

Ceist:

154. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of offices operated by his Department that are in high-risk areas for radon; the number that have been tested for radon; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28572/22]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

My Department has a dedicated Health and Safety Unit with responsibility at Principal Officer level, whereby the objective is always to ensure a safe and appropriate working environment for all staff and visitors across our buildings.

The Department and its Offices are tenants in eleven buildings across the country, six of these in Dublin and the other five being in Carlow, Cork, Kilkenny, Ennis and Sligo.   

The Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 requires employers to identify all hazards in their workplace including radon, to assess the risk to health and safety from these hazards and to put in place measures to eliminate or reduce the risk. The acceptable level for radon for workplaces in Ireland is 300 becquerels per cubic metre. This is the reference level above which remedial action to reduce indoor radon levels should be considered to protect the health of staff.

As part of the Department’s internal Health and Safety management system, a range of risk mitigation checks are frequently undertaken by the Health and Safety Unit, often in conjunction with colleagues on the local Health and Safety committees in each of the Department’s buildings.

Based on specific radon tests undertaken by external experts on four of our buildings during 2021 and from monitoring of the Environmental Protection Agency's Radon Risk Map undertaken across other buildings occupied by staff of the Department to assess our level of potential exposure, the level of radon in each location has been traditionally very low and not sufficient to warrant any remedial action. 

My Department will keep undertaking periodic checks of radon levels across all locations as part of internal health and safety operations.  

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