Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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Question 16: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he sought the reintroduction of a radon remediation grant scheme for householders during discussions on the Estimates 2006; and if he will report on same. [36555/05]

Willie Penrose (Westmeath, Labour)
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Question 73: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if the RPII has requested him to reintroduce the radon remediation grant scheme for householders. [36562/05]

Dan Neville (Limerick West, Fine Gael)
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Question 119: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if a grant will be introduced to aid homeowners reduce radon gas levels in their homes; if such a grant scheme was proposed by his predecessor; if so, the reason same was not introduced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36627/05]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 16, 73 and 119 together.

As I have 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. The RPII has long been encouraging householders, particularly those in high radon areas, to have their homes tested for radon and to undertake radon remediation works where necessary.

Increasing the awareness of the public is considered to be a more effective approach than the introduction of a demand-led scheme of domestic radon remediation grants, which could require very significant public expenditure. Radon grant schemes are not operated by the majority of EU member states.

It is encouraging that recent research commissioned by the RPII has found that 75% of the general population are aware of radon. In addition, there has been an increase of more than 150% in the number of radon measurements undertaken by householders during 2004 compared with previous years. That indicates the increasing effectiveness of the RPII's radon public awareness campaign.

My Department introduced upgraded building regulations in June 1997, which required all new houses commencing construction on or after 1 July 1998 to incorporate radon protection measures. In October 2004, an updated edition of my Department's 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, was published. This new guidance document is aimed at ensuring that the 1997 radon protection measures are carried out more effectively.

In February 2002, a booklet from my Department entitled Radon in Existing Buildings — Corrective Options, became available. This booklet advises designers, builders and home owners on remediation options for reducing radon in existing houses to, or below, the national reference level.

It should be noted that 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.