Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent) | Oireachtas source

We all are in agreement here. The reality is that radon is responsible for between five and six deaths a week. It is something I am conscious of because my own constituency is to the fore in this regard. I have been deeply engaged with my officials on this issue.

The provision exists since 2002. Many Ministers have gone through the Department since 2002 who have sat on their hands in respect of it. At long last we are getting movement on it. As I announced in the House on Second Stage, we are putting in place a pilot scheme specifically to see what will work in practical terms. On foot of that, we will draft an amendment to the current flawed primary legislation from 2002 to put an effective scheme in place, not only for rental properties but for every affected property in the country.

I accept that not enough attention has been paid by my predecessors to the issue of radon gas. That is why I was determined as Minister to address this issue once and for all. On foot of this pilot scheme, once we see what will work on the ground, my intention is to amend the flawed legislation of 2002 and come back with robust legislation that can ensure we address this problem right across the board.

The Government opposes amendment No. 3 as the proposal for the Environmental Protection Agency to report annually to the Oireachtas on the implementation of the national radon control strategy or any successor strategy is not workable for both legal and practical reasons. The national radon control strategy has not been established on a statutory basis and it follows that statutory reporting obligations cannot be imposed on something that has not been put on a statutory basis. On a practical level, the proposed amendment is not workable as the implementation of the national radon control strategy is not the responsibility of the Environmental Protection Agency. The policy function for tackling radon rests with the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment. The national radon control strategy, chaired by my Department, is a multi-agency approach in improving awareness of and protection from radon gas. While the Environmental Protection Agency is an important cog in that wheel, it does not provide the chair or secretariat for the strategy implementation group and is not responsible for delivering on the action points in the strategy.

There are 31 identified action points set out in the national radon control strategy and it is intended that all action points will be implemented. A total of 11 actions are complete, ten actions are on track for completion by next month, and ten further actions will be commenced and will be either completed beyond the strategy end in 2018 or carried out on an ongoing basis. Key achievements to date include: the establishment and launch of a dedicated website, www.radon.ie; the completion and roll-out of targeted training courses on radon remediation for construction site staff, local authorities and contractors; and the establishment of a registration scheme for radon measurement services and radon remediation contractors.

One of the key recommendations made by the strategy relates to financial incentives to encourage householder action on radon. A comprehensive radon testing and remediation survey will shortly be undertaken to assess the degree of uptake of radon testing and remediation in homes in high-risk radon areas and adjacent lower risk areas and to inform the detailed design of a new financial incentive scheme.

Due to the success of the work programme of the national radon control strategy, I intend to establish a successor strategy on a statutory basis to continue the good work in identifying and remediating radon where it occurs. In light of the point that the Deputy has raised in his amendment, I will give consideration to how best to inform the Oireachtas Members on its good work as part of that process.

The reports of the current strategy and working group are published and publicly available. In light of what Deputy Eamon Ryan has said to me, however, I have no issue with laying those reports before the Oireachtas and circulating them directly to members of this committee.