Pearse Doherty (Donegal South West, Sinn Fein)
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Question 29: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the percentage uptake in residents who wish to make their homes radon free. [15641/11]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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The extent of the radon problem in Ireland has been assessed by the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland (RPII) over a number of years. Between 1992 and 1999, the RPII carried out a comprehensive National Radon Survey to measure radon concentrations in Irish homes. The principal objective was to assess the scale of the radon problem and, in particular, identify areas at higher risk of radon contamination above the National Reference Level of 200 becquerels per metre cubed (Bq/m3).

Through the RPII's radon advice and awareness work, my Department supports efforts to raise public awareness of the risks posed by radon in the home. Householders, particularly those in known high radon areas, have been strongly encouraged by the RPII to have their homes tested for radon and to undertake remediation works where necessary.

Some 43,000 homes have now been measured for radon by the RPII and the results of these tests have been compiled into a central database, which has greatly aided knowledge and understanding as to the extent of Ireland's radon problem. The table below gives summary results of the radon measurements carried out in each county up to 31 December 2010.

The RPII is not directly involved in remediation and so does not have direct access to data on remediation of individual houses. However, on the basis of surveys undertaken by RPII and the uptake for its post remediation measurements, RPII estimates that approximately 20% of householders found to have high radon levels actually carry out remediation works on their houses. This level is in line with published findings from other countries. The limited data available to the RPII also suggest that householders with radon levels very much above the reference level are more likely to remediate than householders with moderately high radon levels.