Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)

To the extent that anybody advises people to leave their windows or doors open, I will remove that advice. Discussion on the introduction of a radon gas remedial works grant scheme took place in 1997 and I believe it was announced that such a scheme would be introduced. Again, it was to be subject to moneys being found in the then relevant Departments and as the Deputy knows, that did not happen. The issue was reviewed in 2001, as the Deputy mentioned.

The response of other countries to this issue has been, to put it mildly, chequered. The funding is much better spent in advising people to have their homes tested because the changes that are needed are relatively small and inexpensive.

On a previous occasion the Deputy has mentioned people in social housing and the responsibilities of councils. That point is well made and it is the reason I am incorporating that in the review. A cost benefit analysis was commissioned by the Danish Government some years ago of existing houses in Denmark by way of a scheme to grant assistance. It concluded that such investment would not be justified and that the alternative means of reducing the number of lung cancer deaths, which is the key statistic, reducing smoking, was much better. I do not like using the term "cost benefit analysis" when talking about human life but that is the way the analysis on those particular schemes tends to be conducted. The Deputy can be assured there will not be contradictory advice on this matter.

See this speech in context