Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 826: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the locations throughout the country is respect of which unacceptable levels of radon gas have been identified in dwellings or workplaces; if he has sought any information regarding the impact on the health of the communities involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22772/05]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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During the years 1992 to 1999, the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland, 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 x 10 km grid square throughout the country. The results of the survey were used to predict the percentage of houses in each grid square in which radon concentrations in excess of 200 becquerels per cubic metre, Bq/m3, which is the national reference level. Grid squares where this percentage is greater than 10% are designated as high radon areas. The survey was on domestic dwellings only but in a high radon area it is reasonable to expect that workplaces would also be at risk of exceeding the relevant reference level. Employers would be well advised to carry out surveys in these circumstances in the interests of health and safety. The RPII's website, www.rpii.ie, contains a comprehensive map which shows these high radon locations throughout the country. County radon maps and survey results can be viewed also on that website by clicking on the county by name.

Epidemiological studies have shown that naturally occurring radon gas concentrations add to the incidence of lung cancer. There is evidence to suggest that long-term exposure to high levels of radon can be a contributory factor in increasing the risk of lung cancer and that the incidence is higher among smokers than non-smokers. However, it is not possible to attribute any one case of lung cancer to radon exposure. Therefore, it is not possible to distinguish the impact of radon gas in any particular area from the impact of other carcinogenic substances that may also be present, most notably tobacco smoke.

Both the RPII and my Department will continue to use all appropriate opportunities to raise public awareness of radon, to urge householders, particularly those in high radon areas, to have their homes tested for radon and to encourage householders with radon concentrations above the national reference level to undertake the appropriate remediation works.