Gay Mitchell (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 147: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if guidelines put in place in relation to the location of mobile phone masts near schools, such as a school (details supplied) in Dublin 6, are still in place; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32461/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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My Department has not issued any guidelines to schools in relation to the location of mobile phone masts. The erection of such masts are subject to normal planning regulations which are administered by the relevant Local Authority. I am aware that the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government issued guidelines on Telecommunications Antennae and Support Structures to Planning Authorities in 1996 and that these guidelines are still in place. In addition, in 2005 the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Communications, Marine and Natural Resources issued a report titled "Report on non-ionising radiation from mobile phone handsets and masts". On foot of the recommendations of that report the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources established an inter-departmental committee to examine the health effects, if any, of non-ionising radiation. The work of that committee is currently underway — the committee is expected to report to Government before the end of this year.