Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal, Labour)
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559. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the plans he has for amendments to conveyancing legislation to make it a requirement that radon testing and, where necessary, remediation is compulsory before the sale of a home in a high radon area (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8295/23]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I am advised by the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications that Radon gas is recognised as a serious threat to public health and estimated to be responsible for approximately 350 cases of lung cancer annually in Ireland. The Government has established a National Radon Control Strategy (NRCS), which included 31 actions on a broad range of measures aimed at reducing the risk from radon to people living in Ireland. The strategy is now in its second phase covering the period 2019 – 2024. Implementation of the strategy is overseen by an interdepartmental and agency group chaired by the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications.

Phase one of the NRCS covered 2014 to 2018 and 17 out of the 31 actions were completed, including Action 19, which was to develop a detailed strategy to progress recommendations on conveyancing. The 2017 edition of the Law Society of Ireland’s Conditions of Sale was revised to include three questions regarding radon:

(a) Has a radon test been carried out?

(b) If a radon test has been carried out, please supply the report.

(c) Has any action to reduce radon levels been undertaken?

The Law Society also refer to radon when selling a home -

The Phase One Report of the NRCS is available at and further information, including on testing for radon, can be found at

The question of taking further measures to address the risks arising from radon are a matter for the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications in the first instance.