Dessie Ellis (Dublin North West, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 158: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the problems with carbon monoxide in an estate (details supplied) in Longford Town; if his further attention has been drawn to the fact that the Health Service Executive has advised Longford County Council to inform occupiers that they should vacate the properties in the interests of their safety; if he will conduct an enquiry as to the way such a dangerous and life threatening situation arose; the person, the engineer who signed off on this estate and the developer and the steps he will take to have him brought to account for posing a threat to the lives of residents in the estate; if he will assist financially with the evacuation and re-housing of the residents of this estate as a matter of extreme urgency [33808/12]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Following an incident on 15 March 2012 in a home in the Gleann Riadha estate in Longford town, Longford County Council, acting in consultation with the Health Services Executive, has conducted gas monitoring in a small number of homes on the estate. One home showed unusually high levels of Carbon Monoxide (CO) for a short period on 21 June 2012. As a precautionary public health measure and having regard to the particular CO reading recorded, the owner occupier of the home in question, on the recommendation of the HSE, has been notified of the situation and advised to find alternative accommodation pending further examination and resolution of the problem in their home. It is understood that Longford County Council is bearing the cost of the alternative accommodation in respect of the affected homeowner.

No similar results have been detected at any other home monitored at any time over the past few months. However, as part of the continuing response to the situation and in view of the ongoing concerns of the residents of Gleann Riadha, Longford County Council and the HSE are currently making arrangements to conduct an expanded gas monitoring programme in a significant number of homes over a four week period to commence in the near future.

In addition to this an independent consultancy firm has been engaged to undertake a Root Cause Analysis and Risk Assessment investigation in relation to the incident that occurred on 15 March 2012. The report of the independent consultants, together with the results of the ongoing expanded gas monitoring programme, will inform the further course of action, if any, that may be necessary in relation to this matter.

Clearly this is a stressful and distressing situation for the residents concerned. Longford County Council has advised the residents in relation to appropriate safety measures which should be taken in their homes and will continue to liaise closely with the residents in relation to ongoing developments. I have also asked my Department to liaise with Longford County Council in relation to the evolving situation at Gleann Riadha.