Liam Twomey (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 82: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will introduce a grant system to tackle radon gas in domestic dwellings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22572/06]

Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 98: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the reason he is opposed to the provision of assistance to elderly people to carry out radon remediation work to their homes through either the essential repairs grants scheme or the housing aid for the elderly scheme; and if he will reconsider his opposition to same. [22447/06]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 82 and 98 together.

Government efforts and resources, together with those of the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland (RPII), 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.

Increasing the awareness of the public is considered to be a more effective approach than the provision of State financial assistance schemes to householders for radon testing of their homes or for radon remediation works. Such schemes of assistance are not operated by the majority of EU Member States. The Government, therefore, does not propose to reconsider including radon remediation measures as qualifying under the essential repairs grants or the Housing Aid for the Elderly schemes.

The Government, largely through the RPII, has for many years 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. Householders, particularly those in high radon areas, have been strongly encouraged to have their homes tested for radon and to undertake radon remediation works where necessary.

As part of its campaign to further enhance public awareness of radon, the RPII, in late 2004, began a nationwide series of public information seminars on radon, targeted at high radon areas. So far, seminars have been held in Sligo, Kilkenny, Waterford, Ballina and Tralee. These seminars have received widespread media coverage and have generated a large number of enquiries from the public. The RPII have visited Clonmel this year and also plan to visit Carlow and Galway.

Recent research commissioned by the RPII has found that 75% of the general population are aware of radon. In addition, over the past two years, there has been a significant increase in the number of radon measurements undertaken by householders compared with previous years.

If the household is found to have high radon levels, remediation work may be recommended. Technical guidance on radon remediation techniques is available in a booklet issued by my Department called Radon in Buildings — Corrective Options which is available on my Department's website at www.environ.ie. The RPII has also issued guidance entitled Understanding Radon Remediation — A Householders' Guide. This is available on the RPII website, as is a list of companies who can provide a radon remediation service and can offer specific advice and recommendations.

In addition, my Department, in June 1997, introduced upgraded building regulations which required all new houses which commenced construction on or after 1 July 1998 to incorporate radon protection measures at the time of construction.