Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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Question 89: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the recent study published in a publication (details supplied) confirming that exposure to radon gas in homes leads to a significantly increased risk of lung cancer; the steps he intends to take to deal with the death toll being caused by radon gas in view of this and the findings of the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland that between 150 and 200 persons are dying every year from lung cancer arising from exposure to radon gas; if in view of the continuing death toll attributed to radon gas, he intends to provide funding for a scheme to assist those living in pre-1997 houses to take remedial action to provide adequate protection for their homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3917/05]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I am aware of this recent report, which was published in the British Medical Journal, of a study concerning radon and lung cancer which was funded by Cancer Research UK and the European Commission. This report was the result of a collaborative analysis of individual data from 13 case control studies of residential radon and lung cancer in nine European countries, which did not include Ireland.

The report concluded that radon in the home accounts for about 9% of deaths from lung cancer and about 2% of all deaths from cancer in Europe. It also concluded that the absolute risk to smokers and recent ex-smokers was much greater, 25 times greater, than to lifelong non-smokers. These findings are broadly consistent with the estimate by the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland, RPII, that approximately 10% to 15% of all lung cancer deaths in Ireland are linked to radon gas exposure and that the incidence is higher among smokers than non-smokers.

Based on an RPII survey conducted in the 1990s of radon in domestic dwellings, the great majority of houses in Ireland, over 90%, would have radon concentration levels below the national reference level of 200 becquerels per cubic metres. This is the level above which radon remediation works are recommended.

While it is not practicable to provide grant assistance from public funds for radon remediation works in domestic dwellings, the Government, through the RPII, has over the years 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" and also published a booklet in October 2004 —"Understanding radon remediation, a householders guide". The RPII also plans to distribute an information poster on radon for display in libraries, medical centres and other public areas advising people to have their homes checked for radon.

Both the RPII and my Department will continue to use all appropriate opportunities to raise public awareness of radon and to encourage householders with radon concentrations above the national reference level to undertake remediation works.