Breeda Moynihan-Cronin (Kerry South, Labour)
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Question 1337: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the steps which have been taken to alleviate extremely high levels of radon gas recorded by the RPII in respect of areas (details supplied) in County Kerry; if he will reinstate the grant available to householders to assist with the problem; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24499/05]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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Following the identification in July 2003 of a house in Castleisland with radon concentration levels of approximately 49,000 Bq/m3, the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland undertook a survey of houses in the area. This involved the institute writing to 2,500 householders in and adjacent to the town of Castleisland advising them to have radon measurements carried out in their homes. By way of response to these letters, 418 householders requested radon measurements. Valid measurements, now available for 383 of these, indicate that 54 houses, 14.1%, exceeded the national reference level of 200 Bq/m3, including five houses, 1.3%, which had concentrations above 1,000 Bq/m3. The national reference level of 200 Bq/m3 is the level above which householders should consider radon remediation measures in respect of their dwellings. The highest concentration level found among the 383 houses was just over 6,100 Bq/m3, while the average concentration was just below 150 Bq/m3. Radon measurements were also completed in respect of 89 local authority homes in Castleisland, none of which was found to have radon concentrations in excess of the national reference level.

Over the years, the Government, through the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland, has committed significant resources to assessing the extent of the radon problem and to highlighting public awareness of radon and the health risks associated with prolonged exposure to high radon concentrations. During the years 1992 to 1999, the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland carried out a national survey of radon in domestic dwellings. The purpose of the survey was to quantify comprehensively the scale of the radon problem in Irish dwellings and identify those parts of the country where high indoor radon levels are more likely to be found. The survey involved the measurement by the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland 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. Some 11,300 homes were surveyed. Based on the findings of the survey, the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland estimates that there are approximately 91,000 houses nationwide, or about 9% of the national housing stock, with radon concentration level in excess of the national reference level. The survey also helped the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland to identify high radon areas which are areas where it estimated 10% or more of houses in a 10km by 10km grid have radon concentration levels in excess of the national reference level.

Annascaul is in an area classified as a high radon area. The results of the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland survey, as well as a comprehensive map showing high radon areas in Ireland, are available on the institute's website at www.rpii.ie.

In recent months, the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland has undertaken several initiatives to further heighten public awareness of the radon issue in Ireland. The Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland has recently embarked on a series of nationwide public information seminars, targeted at selected high radon areas. These seminars have received widespread media coverage and have generated a large number of inquires and requests for radon measurements from the public. There are proposals to visit Kerry in the near future as part of this initiative. The Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland will be also be hosting its fourth national forum on radon in Tralee on 14 November 2005.

Upgraded building regulations, introduced in June 1997, require all new houses commencing construction on or after 1 July 1998 to incorporate radon protection measures. In October 2004, the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government published an updated edition of its 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 construction 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 February 2002, the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government also published a booklet, 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 of 200 Bq/m3.

Both the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland have consistently urged householders to measure their homes for radon levels, particularly those that live in a high radon area. Testing of domestic dwellings for radon is straightforward and inexpensive at approximately €40 per home.

With regard to the matter of a grant to assist householders to carry out radon remediation works on their homes, no such grant scheme was ever introduced. While the provision of Exchequer grant assistance for remediation works is not envisaged, efforts will continue at improving information to householders to enable and encourage them to address monitoring or remedial requirements effectively and economically.

Earlier this week the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland and the National Cancer Registry of Ireland issued a joint statement confirming earlier health risk estimates of exposure to radon. The statement followed on from a review by both bodies of a recent Europe-wide survey of the health risks associated with radon. According to the joint statement, the results of the study, when applied to the Irish situation, would suggest that radon is responsible for 200 lung cancer deaths in Ireland every year and that the vast majority of these 200 deaths occur in smokers.