Tom Hayes (Tipperary South, Fine Gael)
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Question 123: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the progress to date in implementing the RPII's radon programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16455/05]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The Government has in recent years, largely through the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland, RPII, committed significant resources to assessing the extent of the radon problem throughout the country and to increasing public awareness of radon.

For example, during the years 1992 to 1999, the RPII carried out a nationwide survey of radon in domestic dwellings. 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 by 10 km grid square throughout the country. In all, over 11,000 houses were measured. The RPII's website, www.rpii.ie, contains a comprehensive map of the high radon areas in Ireland identified as a result of the nationwide survey as well as the report of the survey. High radon areas are areas where the RPII estimates that more than 10% of the houses in each grid square have radon concentrations levels above the national reference level of 200 becquerels per cubic metre. This reference level is the level for long-term exposure to radon in a house above which the need for radon remediation works should be considered.

The consolidated Building Regulations 1997 require all new houses commencing on or after 1 July 1998 to incorporate radon prevention measures. In October 2004, my Department published an updated edition of Technical Guidance Document C 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 prevention measures are carried out more effectively. Ireland was among the first European countries to introduce specific building regulations and related technical guidance on radon prevention in new buildings.

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.

For many years now, the RPII, through press releases and radio and television interviews, and through its own published reports on radon, has been promoting public awareness of radon and highlighting the risks associated with exposure to radon. The RPII has long been encouraging householders, particularly those in high radon areas, to have their homes tested for radon and to undertake radon remediation works where necessary.

The RPII has undertaken several other initiatives to further heighten public awareness of the radon issue. In November 2004, the RPII hosted the third National Radon Forum in Dublin to raise awareness of radon as a health risk. That same month, the RPII published a booklet entitled Understanding Radon — A Householder's Guide. That guide is directed at householders who have been informed that they have radon concentration levels above the national reference level in their homes. The aim of the guide is to assist such householders in interpreting their radon measurement results and in deciding how to deal with the problem. 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. The RPII has also just begun a new radon awareness campaign which will involve a series of nationwide public information seminars on the dangers of radon and which will be targeted at selected high radon areas. As part of this campaign the RPII has organised road shows to further heighten awareness in relation to radon, particularly in areas with high radon levels.

Both the RPII and my Department will continue to use all appropriate opportunities to raise public awareness of radon and to encourage householders, particularly those living in high radon areas, to have their homes tested for radon and to undertake radon remediation works where radon concentration levels in excess of the national reference level are found.