Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 27 April 2023
178. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will report on his communications with the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage in respect of radon. [19990/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra179. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will report on the implementation of the national radon control strategy; and if he will report on plans for financial supports for radon remediation works, in particular. [19991/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra180. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications his plans to raise public awareness of the radon risk map which is available at www.radon.ie; the number of monthly visits to the website in each month since the radon risk map was published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19993/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 178 to 180, inclusive, together.
Radon gas is recognised as a serious threat to public health and estimated to be responsible for approximately 350 cases of lung cancer annually in Ireland. The Government has established a National Radon Control Strategy (NRCS), which is now in its second phase covering the period 2019 – 2024. Implementation of the strategy is overseen by an interdepartmental and agency NRCS Group chaired by my Department. The NRCS Group met earlier this month. Individual Departments, including the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, and Agencies have responsibility for progressing actions under the Strategy that fall within their remit. Implementation of the Strategy involves focussed discussions between officials outside of the Group on specific issues where appropriate.
Progress made in the last 12 months, and a key objective of the Strategy, includes the launch of updated Radon Risk Maps. The new maps update the radon risk assessment for the country and predict that approximately 170,000 homes nationally are at risk from high levels of radon gas. For more information, please go to www.epa.ie/publications/monitoring--assessment/radon/sixteenth-national-radon-forum.php. The table below sets out the number of page views for the radon web page tabulated by month since the launch of the maps in May 2022.
|
Month |
Page Views |
|
May-22 |
383,678 |
|
Jun-22 |
44,746 |
|
Jul-22 |
11,274 |
|
Aug-22 |
10,045 |
|
Sep-22 |
9,781 |
|
Oct-22 |
10,663 |
|
Nov-22 |
12,174 |
|
Dec-22 |
6,992 |
|
Jan-23 |
11,204 |
|
Feb-23 |
8,386 |
|
Mar-23 |
9,352 |
|
Total |
518,295 |
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is a key Agency in the delivery of the NRCS. It hosts the www.radon.ie domain, which includes the radon map; it funds and coordinates research in the radon field, and it also carries out radon awareness campaigns, including around the revised radon map, through social media, local radio ads to mark International Radon Day, billboard ads such as those at bus stops, shopping centres, etc.
In 2022, the maps were also promoted through events, radon remediation training courses or specific briefings with key stakeholders, including Local Authorities, Health and Safety Authority Inspectors, HSE Estates, the Irish Building Control Institute and private contractors. Further events to highlight the maps are planned in 2023, including attendance at the National Ploughing Championship.
A Mid-Term Report to Government on Phase Two of the NRCS will be published shortly. This report sets out progress made towards delivering on the strategy and its actions between May 2019 and June 2022. Previous reports are available at www.epa.ie/publications/.
While there are currently no financial supports in place in respect of radon testing or remediation measures, work to develop such a scheme is one of the action points for the current phase of the NRCS, which will run until 2024. Further information in relation to radon can be found at www.radon.ie.
