Paudie Coffey (Fine Gael)

I welcome the Minister of State, who is here to reply to this matter, which relates to the dangers of radon gas. Radon is a radioactive gas which is present in the ground and which, when it rises above certain levels, is a threat to public health. It is colourless, odourless and tasteless. It can be in one's house and one will not realise it is present. The World Health Organisation has carried out many analyses in respect of this gas. It has been established that the presence of radon is linked to more than 200 lung cancer related deaths in Ireland per annum.

High levels of radon have been detected in Waterford and the south east in general. Evidence of this is provided in the national survey carried out by the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland, RPII. In fairness, the latter carries out regular awareness campaigns and invites stakeholders, such as local authorities and various State bodies and agencies, or those with a role or interest in raising awareness interest in this problem to take part in its radiological protection forum.

There is a need for a national strategy to link in with the radon awareness campaign. The Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland plays a role from a scientific and educational point of view. It does not have the resources or capacity to allow it to reach every locality. It will be necessary to reach every locality if we are to deal appropriately with this threat to public health. Local authorities could play a very important role in this regard, particularly because they have the resources and manpower necessary at community level to raise awareness and drive advertising campaigns.

An overall national strategy, for which the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland, if allocated proper resources, could take ultimate responsibility. The institute has carried out awareness campaigns in certain areas where high levels of radioactive gas were detected. The safety threshold relating to radon gas is 200 bq/m3 for a household or school and 400 bq/m3 for workplaces. I am aware of households in mid-Waterford where readings of thousands of becquerels per metre cubed have been detected. This is a matter of major concern. Many hundreds, if not thousands, of households in the south east have not been tested for the presence of radon. It can cost anything between €40 and €80 per test and if remediation work is required, this can cost anything from €1,500 to €2,000.

Grant aid is not provided to people who need to carry out remediation work such as that to which I refer. In recent years there has been a drive to improve building energy ratings, BERs, in homes and grant assistance in this regard is available through Sustainable Energy Ireland. It is ironic that where energy ratings for houses are improved by the putting in place of, for example, new windows, the level of ventilation and air circulation in such houses can be reduced as a result. The latter can contribute to escalating levels of radon where the gas is a problem. A house which did not have a radon problem prior to its energy rating being improved could well develop such a problem subsequently. The Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland made proposals to the Government and the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government in respect of tying radon detection tests with any improvements relating to energy ratings. Such a suggestion is logical and makes common sense.

I call on the Government to put in place a national radon protection strategy in order that this problem, which is a public health issue due to the life-threatening nature of radon, might be addressed. There are simple ways which would not incur a cost for the Exchequer by means of which this problem could be dealt with. I refer, for example, to making it compulsory for certification purposes to carry out radon tests on all new houses.

Every house sold must have a building energy rating, BER, certificate, and there is no reason there cannot be a radon compliance certificate as well. Through this method, every house could be tested in the next ten or 20 years, thereby eliminating a large part of the problem. I am interested in the Minister of State's response.