Ned O'Keeffe (Cork East, Fianna Fail)
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Question 228: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the very high indoor levels of radon gas at a location (details supplied) in County Cork and that the levels are almost three times above the annual average radon concentration set by the Government; and if works will be carried out in the area urgently to reduce the levels on health grounds. [2309/05]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I am aware that high levels of radon gas have been found in the Mallow area in County Cork. The carrying out of necessary radon remediation works in respect of private houses is a matter for the householder. Over the years the Government, through the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland, RPII, has committed significant resources to assessing the extent of the radon problem throughout the country and to increasing public awareness of radon.

During the years 1992 to 1999, the RPII carried out a national survey of radon in domestic dwellings aimed at assessing the extent of the radon problem in homes. The survey involved the measurement by the RPII of radon for a 12-month period in a random selection of homes in each 10 km. x 10 km. grid square throughout the country. The RPII's website contains a comprehensive map of the high radon areas in Ireland as well as the report of its national survey of radon in homes.

In February 2002, my Department published a booklet entitled Radon in Existing Buildings — Corrective Options advising designers, builders and home owners on remediation options for reducing radon in existing houses to or below the national reference level. Upgraded building regulations, introduced in June 1997, 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 technical guidance document C (TGD-D) on part C of the building regulations — site preparation and resistance to moisture, incorporating enhanced radon prevention measures for new buildings commencing on or after 1 April 2005. This new guidance document is aimed at ensuring that the 1997 radon protection measures are carried out more effectively.

In recent months, the RPII has undertaken several initiatives to further heighten awareness of the radon issue in Ireland. In November 2004, the RPII hosted the third national radon forum in Dublin to raise awareness of radon as a health risk. Earlier this year the RPII published a revised version of its booklet, Radon in Homes. The RPII also plans to distribute an information poster on radon for display in libraries, medical centres, etc., advising people to have their homes checked for radon.