Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 327: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 233 of 4 May 2006, if all public buildings in County Kildare have been checked for radon gas levels; if all required action arising therefrom has been taken; if his attention has been drawn to any such building in respect of which remedial action is still outstanding; if particular action is required by his Department to ensure that higher than national reference levels of radon gas are detected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20122/06]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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According to the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland (RPII) Co. Kildare is not considered to be a high radon area HRA, with the exception of very small area in the south of the county. In this regard it is a matter for the public authorities concerned to consider whether testing for radon is required in their buildings.

To date the RPII has carried out radon measurements in 20 workplaces in Co. Kildare at the voluntary initiative of the employers concerned. None of the workplaces measured had radon concentration levels above 400 Bq/m3 which is the National Reference level for workplaces, above which radon remediation works should be considered. Further radon measurements in workplaces in County Kildare will have been carried out by qualified operators other than RPII.

Schools in Kildare were measured as part of a nationwide survey undertaken in the period 1998 to 2001 by the RPII at the request of the Department of Education and Science. Of the 126 schools measured, 24 had radon levels above the National Reference level of 200 Becquerels per cubic metre (Bq/m3) in at least one room. The Department of Education and Science has, I understand, already provided funding for remedial measures in all schools affected.

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 increasing public awareness of radon. 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.

In June 1997, my Department introduced upgraded building regulations which required all new buildings, including new houses, which commenced construction on or after 1 July 1998 to incorporate radon protection measures at the time of construction. In October 2004, my Department published an updated edition of 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 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 addition, my Department and the RPII have produced brochures and a booklet on radon which provide information on the risks associated with radon and on remediation solutions available.

As is clear from the above, considerable resources are being expended by Government on promoting public awareness of radon. Government efforts and resources, together with the RPII, will continue to focus on highlighting public awareness of radon and on improving information to householders and employers so as to enable and encourage them to address monitoring or remedial requirements effectively and economically.