Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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While the Radiological Protection (Amendment) Act, 2002 provides a legislative structure for radon remediation no scheme was ever commenced under its provisions.  Over the last year my Department considered, in some detail,  the practicalities of implementing a scheme under the 2002 legislation but concluded that this was unworkable for a number of legal and practical reasons. The rigidity of the remediation scheme proposed under the 2002 Act  presents problems for the delivery of a modern, efficient and effective scheme.

The scheme envisaged under the 2002 Act provides for financial assistance for remediation only. It does not provide for radon testing.  The Environmental Protection Agency has advised that the experience in other jurisdictions shows that where the initial radon test is not subsidised a considerable barrier to the uptake of a remediation scheme arises.  It is essential that any radon scheme should, in the first instance, maximise the number of households conducting a test for radon in their homes.  Greater numbers of households carrying out radon tests will enable us to accurately identify and map locations of particular concern, target householders in high-radon areas, and promote increased awareness of the problems of radon gas in dwellings.   

The radon landscape has changed considerably since the 2002 Act was enacted, particularly as regards the number of commercial operators offering radon testing and remediation services.  Under the National Radon Control Strategy, a training and registration scheme has been established by the EPA for radon remediation and measurement services.  Any scheme of grant aid for radon testing or remediation should ensure that the work carried out under this scheme is by one of these registered services qualified to remediate radon. The current legislation does not make it an explicit requirement that remediation works be carried out by a registered provider.

For the reasons above, it is clear that any radon remediation scheme should be grounded in new primary legislation and will  need to be properly structured to ensure the maximum uptake for testing and remediation of dwellings. To assist in this, I have provided funding for the EPA to undertake a survey on radon financial incentives in both high and low risk areas. This work is on-going and is required to establish the likely costs and administrative supports that would be associated with a full scheme.