The Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland (RPII) estimate that there are approximately 91,000 homes in Ireland with high levels of radon gas and so far only 4,000 of them have been identified. It also estimated in 2004 that up to 20 per cent of homes in counties Sligo, Mayo and Galway may have high levels of the cancer-causing radon gas.
Cllr Keith Martin says it is unacceptable that there is still no grant scheme to assist people in making their homes safe from the gas.
According to the Labour Councillor "Studies carried out in Ireland have found that the cost of carrying out remediation to reduce radon levels in homes with high radon levels is a major disincentiventive to carrying out remediation."
"The RPPI has recommended a programme of free radon measurements in all high radon areas, and that a grant system be put in place to provide assistance to householders for remediation works to reduce radon concentrations above the reference level of 200 becquerels per cubic metre.
"Labour's Emmet Stagg introduced a grant scheme in 1997 but it was never implemented by the subsequent Governments."
Radon is estimated to cause 150-200 cases of lung cancer every year, or 10-15% of all such cases in Ireland. Though naturally occurring, radon can sometimes become a problem when it enters an enclosed space, such as a building, and builds up to unacceptably high concentrations.
Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas which originates from the decay of uranium in rocks and soils. When it surfaces in the open air, it is quickly diluted into harmless concentrations, but when it enters an enclosed space, such as a school, it can sometimes accumulate to unacceptably high concentrations.
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