Seán calls for urgent Radon action after major National report on Kilkenny radon levels
Issued : Tuesday 21 June, 2005
Areas : Kilkenny
Seán calls for action after report shows 10% of new Kilkenny houses with dangerously high levels of Radon Gas
The release of a major report into Radon levels in Kilkenny City should lead to immediate action to prevent lung cancer deaths in the area, according to local Labour Party Councillor, Seán Ó hArgáin. Cllr. Ó hArgáin described it as extremely worrying that up to 10% of new houses built since 1998, and which officially have radon barriers fitted, are still showing levels of the odourless, colourless gas, which are dangerously high.
Following a presentation by Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland Officials to Kilkenny County Council, Cllr. Ó hArgáin also reiterated his call for immediate reassurance to be given to Local Authority tenants that their houses are safe. He said it was unfortunate that Local Authority houses were not included in the survey, but welcomed the Council’s commitment to testing 5% of its housing stock. He called on Central Government to fund these tests, and also to reverse its decision not to proceed with a Radon remediation grant which would allow house owners to pay for the €3,000 plus equipment to reduce radon gas in their houses.
“It is timely that the RPII have drawn attention to the continuing levels of Radon, despite the introduction of standards in 1998. The question which arises is whether the building industry and private people building their own houses are taking enough care in the fitting of Radon barriers, and who is policing the standard of work carried out. It is disturbing that houses which have officially been fitted with these potentially life-saving devices are still coming in with disturbingly high radon figures.
The particular conditions which apply in the Kilkenny area, with its porous, limestone geology, need to be clearly explained to the public. The fact that the RPII survey shows increased levels of public awareness of the issue is encouraging, but we need to take further action.
The failure of the Fianna Fáil and PD Government to introduce a Radon Remediation Grant Scheme, as initiated in 1997 by Labour’s Emmett Stagg as Housing Minister is appalling. How many lives have been and will be lost as a result of this penny-pinching approach to public health?”
Cllr. Ó hArgáin concluded by calling on Kilkenny County and Borough Councils to demand the introduction of a remediation grant, and to immediately put in place a remediation plan for their own public housing stock, as well as ensuring adequate resources for its Building Control Units to ensure developers were complying with the law.
Cllr 
