John Perry (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 258: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 261 of 23 October 2005 the progress he has made with regard to introducing grant aid to home owners for the provision of radon barriers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35789/05]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I assume the question refers to the reply to Question No. 261 of 23 June 2005. As previously indicated, Government efforts and resources, together with those of the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland, RPII, are continuing to focus on highlighting public awareness of radon and on improving information to householders so as to enable and encourage them to address monitoring or remedial requirements effectively and economically. The Government has over the years, largely through the RPII, committed significant resources to assessing the extent of the radon problem throughout the country and to highlighting public awareness of radon and the health risks associated with prolonged exposure to high radon concentrations. For many years now, the RPII has been encouraging householders, particularly those in high radon areas, to have their homes tested for radon and to undertake radon remediation works where necessary. This approach is considered to be more effective than the introduction of a demand-led scheme of domestic radon remediation grants.

A recent European study shows that, for those exposed to similar concentrations of radon, the risk of contracting lung cancer is 25 times greater for those who smoke and that the vast majority of the radon-induced lung cancer cases occur among smokers and ex-smokers.