Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 6: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the measures he plans to put in place to tackle high levels of radon gas exposure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43127/08]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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The Government's approach to radon is to concentrate efforts on increasing public awareness of the risks posed by radon in the home. This is similar to the approach adopted in the majority of EU member states.

The Government, largely through the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland, RPII, has worked towards assessing the extent of the radon problem throughout the country, and advising people of the steps they can take to reduce any risk they may face. Householders, particularly those in known high radon areas, have been strongly encouraged by the RPII to have their homes tested for radon and to undertake remediation works where necessary. The RPII has carried out targeted information campaigns in high radon areas and in some instances where particularly high radon levels have been found it has written directly to householders. Since the completion of the National Radon Survey in 1999, the RPII has completed radon measurements in an additional 22,000 homes.

My Department will continue to work closely with the RPII, local authorities and other interested agencies to raise public awareness and to promote testing and remediation works. This multi-agency approach to dealing with radon is in line with international best practice, as recommended by the World Health Organisation's international radon project, which is co-funded by the Irish Government. Officials from my Department, local authorities and the RPII are developing clear guidance for local authorities on addressing high radon concentrations in social housing. My Department will continue to work closely with the RPII in developing policy on this issue, and will also examine the proposals in the RPII's 2008 report, Radiation Doses Received by the Irish Population, in respect of a future work programme.

James Bannon (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Radon gas——

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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I ask Deputy Bannon to ask a question because I want to call a number of Deputies.

James Bannon (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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——is a cancer causing gas, the second most important cause of lung cancer in the country. It can be relatively inexpensive to control. Worryingly——

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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I want to call a number of Deputies and if Deputies could pose short questions, rather than make a speech, we could come to every Member. Otherwise, we will not be able to reach people.

James Bannon (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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——the Department has no specific budget to control radon emissions and I want the Minister to elaborate on that. Ireland has the sixth highest radon level——

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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Thank you, Deputy Bannon.

James Bannon (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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——according to the World Health Organisation.

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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Please, Deputy Bannon.

James Bannon (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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This is very serious and must be dealt with.

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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Deputy Bannon will not ignore the Chair. If everyone makes a speech, we will not get supplementary questions.

James Bannon (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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I would ask a question if the Leas-Cheann Comhairle gave me a little time.

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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The Deputy is making a speech rather than asking a question. It is Question Time, not a Second Stage debate on radon.

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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The Deputy referred to financial assistance. The radon test kits are available from the RPII at a cost of €56. A number of private firms have offered this service. The cost of radon remediation work on a house varies, depending on the severity and the remediation methods employed but, on average, it is €1,500 to €2,000. There is no provision in the budget of my Department to fund such a scheme. The Deputy asked me to ensure the local authorities got more money this morning. There are so many priority areas that I would like to fund. I would also like to be in a position to fund this but the money is not there.

James Bannon (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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The Minister is a very weak link in government.

Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
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When Labour was in government, the then Minister of State, Deputy Stagg, introduced legislation for a grant scheme for remediation measures. The Green Party was in favour of that scheme when in opposition. The RPII is in favour because it states that only 10% of people who have high levels of radon take up the remediation measures afterwards. NUI has found that this is because of the cost of installing those barriers. Will the Minister consider implementing the Labour Party scheme now that he is in government?

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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Deputy Tuffy is correct, her colleague Deputy Stagg did that but did not make the money available. I come across this constantly, where the Deputy talks about legislation that must be improved and then I find that the Labour Party introduced the legislation in the first place. That is the nature of politics.

Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
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Fianna Fáil abandoned it.

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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The Department has received an application for funding for radon testing and remediation in a local authority housing area in north Cork. This request is being examined and will be considered for funding under the 2009 allocation process. We are examining the situation regarding funding. Government policy on radon recognises the individual responsibility on the householder on what, if any, action to take regarding the risk posed by radon exposure.

Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Fine Gael)
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The Minister could improve the standards and regulations in building. The RPII referred to this as an area that could be improved. It will not cost any money. The Minister might re-examine the building regulations because the high level of radon in houses is worrying.

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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That is a constructive suggestion. The Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland is the organisation with the regulatory, monitoring and advisory responsibilities in these matters and it plays a leading role. It has tried to raise awareness of this issue. We fund the RPII and this year it was allocated €4.676 million.