Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)

I thank Deputy Deenihan for raising this serious issue. The statistics he illustrated, and the statistics produced by the RPII, illustrate how important it is for householders to have their premises tested. Testing is a very cheap and convenient process.

I am aware of the high levels of radon found in the house in question in Castleisland, County Kerry. I saw the test results when I visited the RPII recently. As the House is aware, radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas found in variable amounts in rocks and soil. When it surfaces in the open air, it is quickly diluted. However, where in certain circumstances it enters an enclosed space, such as a house, it can reach unacceptably high concentration levels. This is what has happened in some of these cases. There is evidence to suggest that long-term exposure to high levels of radon can be a contributory factor in increasing the risk of lung cancer and that the incidence is higher among smokers than non-smokers. As Deputy Deenihan said, this is a very dangerous gas which can cause lung cancer in specific circumstances.

In July 2003, a house located close to the town of Castleisland was found to have an extraordinary concentration of radon at 48,000 becquerels per cubic metre. This was 250 times greater than the national reference level of 200 becquerels per cubic metre. The national reference level was established by the Government in the early 1990s and is the level above which the carrying out of radon remediation works should be considered. This exceptionally high radon concentration level was unprecedented in Ireland. As the Deputy said, it was one of the highest levels found in Europe. I understand that subsequent radon remediation works on the house resulted in a significant reduction in the concentration level, that is, below 500 becquerels per cubic metre, illustrating what can be done with remediation works.

Following this discovery, the RPII sent 2,500 letters to all households in the four 10 x 10 km national grid squares adjoining the town of Castleisland, informing them of the high levels found and advising them to have radon measurements carried out. By way of response to the institute's letters, 418 householders requested radon measurements. Results now available for 384 of these indicate that 54 houses, or 14%, exceeded the national reference level of 200 becquerels per cubic metre, including five houses, or 1%, which had concentrations above 1,000 becquerels per cubic metre. The highest concentration level found among the 384 houses was just over 6,100 becquerels per cubic metre, while the average concentration was just below 150 becquerels per cubic metre. In all cases where concentration levels in excess of the national reference level were found, the RPII would have advised the householder to consider undertaking radon remediation work.

A further 90 local authority homes in the four grid squares adjoining Castleisland were measured for radon at the initiative of Kerry County Council, for which it is to be complimented. However, none of these houses was found to have radon concentrations in excess of the national reference level. These follow up radon measurements in houses in the area indicate that the exceptionally high radon concentration levels found in the house in Castleisland has not been replicated generally to date in other houses in the area.

The Government has been concerned about the issue of radon for some time. Through the RPII, it has committed significant resources to assessing the extent of the radon problem throughout the country and to highlighting public awareness of radon. Upgraded building regulations, introduced in June 1997 by my Department, require all new houses which commenced construction on or after 1 July 1998 to incorporate radon protection measures. My Department has recently published an updated edition of the Technical Guidance Document C on Part C of the Building Regulations (Site Preparation and Resistance to Moisture) which incorporates enhanced radon prevention measures for new buildings commenced on or after 1 April 2005. The new guideline document is aimed at ensuring that the 1997 radon protection measures are carried out more effectively. Ireland was among the first European countries to introduce specific building regulations and related detailed technical guidance on radon prevention in new buildings. In February 2002, the Department of the Environment and Local Government published a booklet, Radon in Existing Buildings — Corrective Options, advising designers, builders and homeowners on remediation options for reducing radon in existing houses to, or below, the national reference level.

The RPII published a booklet in November 2004 entitled Understanding Radon — A Householder's Guide. The guide is directed at householders who have been informed that they have radon concentrations above the reference level in their homes. The aim of the guide is to assist such householders in interpreting their radon measurement results and in deciding how to deal with the problem.

The Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland has been promoting public awareness of radon for many years as well as highlighting the risks associated with it. The institute has always encouraged householders, as I also encourage them, particularly those residing in high radon areas, to have their homes tested for radon and, where measurements are found to exceed the national reference level, to carry out appropriate radon remediation works. The cost to a householder of having his or her home tested for radon would be in the order of €45.

This week the institute announced the commencement of a radon awareness campaign. This will involve a series of nationwide public information seminars on radon and it is being targeted at selected high radon areas. The first of these seminars took place in Ballina yesterday. I understand that, as part of the renewed campaign, a similar public awareness initiative will take place in Tralee later this year.

Basically the institute's campaign, announced this week, is aimed at further promoting public awareness of radon and encouraging householders, particularly those in high radon areas, to have their homes tested for radon.

The Government takes the issue of radon very seriously. As I indicated, the Government has taken a number of initiatives down the years to tackle the radon problem and it will continue to publicise and heighten public awareness of the issue.

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