Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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Question 80: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he has satisfied himself that the sum of €40,000 spent in 2006 by the RPII in highlighting public awareness of the dangers of radon gas; his views on the instigation of a new campaign to highlight the dangers of radon with a particular view to promoting remediation measures. [13252/07]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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Over the years, the Government, largely through the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland (RPII), has committed significant resources to assessing the incidence of radon throughout the country and highlighting public awareness of radon and the health risks associated with prolonged exposure to high concentrations. These are core activities of the Institute. The figure of €40,000 relates only to direct expenditure on awareness-raising and does not include all staffing costs and overheads associated with the Institute's radon related activities. The RPII estimates that its total 2006 expenditure in this area is approximately €190,000.

In addition, during the 1990s RPII carried out a nationwide survey of radon in domestic dwellings. The cost of this has been estimated at approximately €900,000.

Other Government Departments are also involved in highlighting the dangers of radon and promoting remediation measures. For example, the Radon Remediation Programme in schools, which is funded by the Department of Education and Science, has cost approximately €6million to date.

It is clear from the above, therefore, that 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.