Kevin Humphreys (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 208: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if research grants, funded by the State or other bodies, that are awarded to research laboratories in institutions of higher education must include the disposal costs of any radioactive materials used in the course of that work; his views on whether they should; his plans to ensure the costs of disposal are factored into grants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26972/11]

Kevin Humphreys (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 209: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to put in place a disposal programme for radioactive material either currently in storage or which may be produced in future at institutions of higher education and research; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26973/11]

Kevin Humphreys (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 210: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the amount of radioactive material held by research institutions and universities of higher education under his aegis; if he will provide a breakdown of the amounts by institution; the disposal arrangements that are in place; the associated costs of storage and disposal of this material; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26974/11]

Kevin Humphreys (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 211: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason the nuclear reactor components in storage in University College Cork have not been disposed of since their existence become public in 2003; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26975/11]

Kevin Humphreys (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 212: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the date on which the nuclear reactor components in storage at University College Cork were last inspected by the European Atomic Energy Community; if any Irish body monitors and inspects this material to check its security and impact on health; the safety measures taken to protect staff and workers in UCC; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26976/11]

Kevin Humphreys (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 214: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if the nuclear reactor components mentioned in a 2003 article (details attached) are still in storage at University College Cork; his plans to dispose of the remaining uranium fuel rods and associated fissile material including plutonium; the body responsible for its disposal; the estimated costs associated with disposal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26990/11]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 208 to 212, inclusive, and 214 together.

The management of radioactive waste is the responsibility of the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government working in conjunction with the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland (RPII).

Information available from the RPII regarding disused radioactive waste in the country's education sector indicates that there are 2,037 sources held at 17 institutions. These sources are held in dedicated storage facilities. Further information and details are available from the RPII directly. I am pleased to advise the Deputy that based on advice received from the RPII these disused sources do not represent a hazard. The RPII is satisfied that all sources held under licence are stored safely and securely to meet licence requirements and to comply with national legislation. Regular inspections are carried out by the RPII of all licensees in this sector.

The stock of disused sources will not increase. It is a licensing requirement that an application to acquire new sealed sources is accompanied by a take back agreement whereby the supplier agrees to take back the source when it is no longer required. Funding the costs of returning material other than that used for research purposes rests with institutions. Since disbursing research grants is the responsibility of the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the position in relation to returning material used for research purposes is a matter between that Department and institutions.

Earlier this year my Department introduced a scheme in the higher education sector whereby specific funding is available for the disposal of legacy disused sources. With the exception of stock at UCC, this scheme will remove all legacy disused sources through export by commercial operators. While exact costs of implementing this scheme are not currently available due to ongoing tendering action, initial indications are that costs will not be significant.

Concerning sources held at UCC, I am informed that the position is as follows: 1. Material in storage at UCC did not come from a nuclear reactor as has been suggested. It was originally incorporated into a device called a sub critical assembly (SCA), designed to be safely used in an open laboratory. The SCA was incapable of generating either heat or power. 2. The SCA was disassembled in the early 1980s and its radioactive components were placed in secure storage. UCC no longer has any use for this SCA and continues to endeavour to dispose of this material. In this regard, UCC in consultation with the RPII has made significant progress and UCC is hopeful that a resolution can be achieved shortly. It is too early to assess the costs that will be associated with disposal at this time.

The components of the SCA were last inspected by the European Atomic Energy Community on 6th October, 2010. The nuclear material is securely stored at UCC in a proprietary radioactive waste store built to a design approved by RPII. The material is held at UCC under licence from the RPII whose Inspectors regularly inspect this store in addition to inspections by the EU and by the IAEA. The radioactive material is stored under strict physical and electronic security including continuous CCTV monitoring. The store is only entered save for the purposes of inspection. I am assured by the RPII that radiation levels outside the store are negligible and pose no health hazard. 3. The RPII last inspected the waste store at UCC in June 2011 and was satisfied with the on-going security arrangements. Furthermore, the storage facility has been the subject of several security audits undertaken by the National Crime Prevention Unit of An Garda Síochána since November 2008.