Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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Question 324: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if her Department retained the services of consultants to advise on the exclusion of radon gas from schools; if so, the name of the consultants; the services they provided; the fees which were paid or are payable to them; if she has satisfied herself that the contractors engaged by her Department have carried out the necessary works in a satisfactory manner; if she has further satisfied herself with the work carried out at a school (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29689/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The position is my Department, in co-operation with the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland, RPII, has been funding a radon detection and remediation programme in schools since 1998. The radon reference set for the workplace under the Radiological Protection Act 1991 (Ionising Radiation) Order, 2000, S.I. No. 125 of 2000, is 400 Bq/m3. In schools with levels above 400 Bq/m3 the management authorities are advised to secure the services of a suitably qualified consultant architect or engineer to carry out all necessary remedial works and grants are provided by my Department for these works. My Department also issues grants to schools for the installation of suitable vents in classrooms where radon levels are between 200 Bq/m3 and 400 Bq/m3, notwithstanding the fact that the radon reference for workplaces is 400 Bq/m3.

Following completion of remediation works, post-remediation measurements are carried out by the RPII to determine if the remediation has been effective. This process is ongoing and the RPII continues to carry out post-remediation testing in schools.

With regard to the school in question, this was one of a number of schools for which my Department made arrangements on their behalf directly with the consultant architects for radon mitigation works to be carried out. A post-remediation test showed that the remediation works did not bring the levels down to an acceptable level. On the instructions of the consultant architects a broken fan was replaced and the radon levels are now well below the reference levels mentioned, at levels of 57 Bq/m3 and under.

Regarding the matter of the leak in the roof, which is understood to be in the area of the radon pipe casing, this is the subject of ongoing correspondence between my Department and the consultant architects. In the meantime, my Department's officials have also been in contact with the school authorities to request an estimate of the works required to repair the leak in the roof with a view to making arrangements for the works to be carried out.

Details of the consultant architects which my Department appointed to oversee radon mitigation works at schools and fees payable will be forwarded directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.