John Perry (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 133: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will make a statement on the proposed World Health Organisation international radon project; and if Ireland will participate in this project. [22277/05]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The World Health Organisation, WHO, has recently announced the launch of an international radon project which it will coordinate and which is aimed at helping countries reduce the health risks associated with radon gas.

The project, which is initially expected to run for three years, 2005-07, will seek to identify effective strategies for reducing the health impact of radon, promote sound policy options for radon prevention and radon mitigation programmes for national authorities, and increase public and political awareness about the consequences of exposure to radon. Under the project, a global network of radon scientists, regulators and policy makers will be established to collaborate in the project. The first meeting of the project was held in Geneva in January 2005 to develop the strategy for the project.

Ireland, through the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland, will actively participate in this project. The institute, which participated in the January 2005 meeting, has been highlighting public awareness of radon in Ireland for many years and has been actively encouraging householders, particularly those in high radon areas, to have their homes measured for radon and to carry out radon remediation works where concentrations above the national reference level are found.

I regard this project as a very welcome and positive initiative and look forward to the recommendations arising from it in due course.