Govt under pressure over radon gas
Monday, 16 September 2002 22:04
The Minister for the Environment, Martin Cullen, has been asked to urgently sign into law a grant scheme to help householders protect their homes against radon gas.
7% of Irish homes are estimated to have unacceptable levels of the radioactive gas, which has the capacity to cause lung cancer.
The call comes as the National Radon Forum holds its inaugural meeting in Dublin today.
After smoking, long-term exposure to radon gas in the home is the greatest single cause of lung cancer in Ireland.
It is a naturally occurring radioactive gas which originates from the decay of uranium in rocks and soils. While it is harmless in the open air, it becomes dangerous in an enclosed space such as a house.
According to the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland, 91,000 Irish homes probably have radon levels above what is recommended but only 2,500 have been located.
In order to encourage home owners to get property built before 1998 checked, the last Government gave a commitment in September 2000 to introduce a scheme in which part of the cost for remedial work would be paid for by the State.
However, while legislation on the matter was finally passed last February, the scheme has not come on stream as it still requires a Ministerial order.
