John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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Question 9: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the number of radon measuring kits purchased from the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland; the resulting levels of radon; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13385/07]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I understand from the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland that it has issued almost 120,000 radon measurement detectors since the establishment of its radon measurement programme in the early 1990s. However, this does not indicate the full extent of measurements taken, as private companies also provide the service and detectors can be purchased from retail outlets.

Radon measurements undertaken by the RPII since the early 1990s have involved: over 31,000 houses, over 3,800 schools nationwide measured under a programme commissioned by the Department of Education and Science and over 1,600 workplaces.

A summary of the results, on a county basis, of the radon measurements carried out in houses up to 31 December 2006 is available on the RPII website www.rpii.ie. Approximately 13% of houses measured were above the reference level where remediation works would be recommended.

The Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland, RPII, has reported on the radon measurements found in schools, and the results on a county by county basis are also available on the RPII website. All schools which were found to have high radon levels have been remediated.

In regard to workplaces, I understand that of the 1,600 workplaces measured, approximately 10% were above the reference level for radon in workplaces. The Government, largely through the RPII, has for many years committed significant resources to assessing the extent of the radon problem throughout the country and to highlighting public awareness of radon and the health risks associated with prolonged exposure to radon concentrations. The RPII has consistently urged householders, particularly those in high radon areas, to have their homes tested for radon and, where necessary, to undertake the necessary remediation works.

Government efforts and resources, together with those of the RPII, will continue to focus on highlighting public awareness of radon and on improving information to householders to enable and encourage them to address monitoring or remedial requirements effectively and economically.

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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Is the Minister aware that more than 200 people die every year in Ireland from lung cancers that can be attributed directly to radon gas? Would it not make sense, in the circumstances, to waive the fee being charged for one of these kits? It has gone up from €50 to €54 and, according to my calculations, it would cost a mere €5 million to test the 90,000 homes directly affected. This would be a sensible health measure to take, aside altogether from a sensible environmental measure. Has the Minister given this any consideration? In my view people are dying from this unnecessarily.

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy is correct and there is a responsibility on all of us to inform ourselves of the risks associated with radon. A study in the United States found that 90% of radon-related lung cancer deaths occur among smokers and I was not aware of that statistic.

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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They take it into their systems more easily.

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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That may be so but 10% of people do not fall into that category.

I do not agree that the charging system put in place by the RPII is excessively onerous. This issue arose previously; remediation is relatively easy and I was surprised on examining its cost. I do not contest the figures presented by the Deputy and the vast majority of radon-related deaths occur among smokers and ex smokers. I happen to be a former heavy smoker. An element of responsibility lies with householders and businesses to ensure they avail of the tests. The tests are very easy and involve a small device that is placed in two locations in a house. The device is returned to the RPII and that organisation supplies the results quickly. It is imperative that those living in areas with a high concentration of granite, such as Wicklow, where I live, get their houses tested.

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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Does the Minister have statistics on people who have not availed of the test? On the basis of the figures the Minister has provided it appears many people living in high radon areas are not testing and remediating. This is clearly resulting in the deaths of more than 200 people every year. It is scandalous that so many people are dying unnecessarily. Would the introduction of free testing kits not be a sensible public health measure for this Government to take? On examining the figures, €5 million is not a great deal of money if it saves lives.

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy is correct but €55 to have a house tested for a lifetime is not a large amount either. The RPII website should be commended because it is clear and provides the relevant data. Every county is shown on the website along with becquerel background levels, areas of high concentration and the number of tests that have been carried out. The website shows that 2,800 houses in Kerry have been measured and the highest concentration of becquerels there was 49,000, which is astonishing.

Deputies will be aware of the case in question. A great deal of public information is available. It is important that the RPII continues to provide public information and members of the public take some responsibility in this area.