28th October 2004

PRESS RELEASE

BRING BACK RADON REMEDIATION GRANTS SCHEME – GREEN PARTY

The Green Party has called for a new grants scheme to tackle Radon gas in existing homes. 

Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that is present in many Irish homes and that can cause cancer if levels are allowed remain high. 

Ciarán Cuffe TD, The Green Party’s Environment Spokesperson stated: “The Minister for the Environment has announced new guidelines for Radon barriers in new homes, yet he is doing nothing for those living in older houses. 

“We want Dick Roche to reintroduce a Remediation Grants Scheme to the worst affected areas in Ireland. People should be given some financial help in situations where the levels of radioactivity are very high.

“Homes built from granite stone and built in areas rich in granite can have very high levels of this gas.  Often PVC replacement windows make the situation worse by making homes airtight and reducing air circulation.

There was provision for radon remediation grants to offset 50% of the cost to householders, set out in the Radiological Protection Amendment Act of 2002. However, the scheme was scrapped due to budget constraints in 2003.

It is estimated that 10-15% of all lung cancers are linked to radon resulting in up to 200 deaths every year according to the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland.  An estimated 91,000 or 7% of the nations' homes are at risk from levels exceeding safety limits.

“Instead of just looking at new dwelling Minister Roche should be addressing the problem in existing home that is killing hundreds of people every year.”

ENDS