COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, February 08, 2010

QUESTION NO.13

QUESTION: Councillor E. Tuffy

To ask the Manager if the Council has a role in advising householders in the County on whether their houses/residences are locations in the County where Radon gas levels are known to be high enough to warrant householders having the level of Radon gas in their homes tested, if the Council is in a position to deal with queries from householders and if he will make a statement on the Report published by the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland in so far as it applies to South Dublin County?

REPLY:

Radon is a radioactive gas which is naturally produced in the ground from the uranium present in small quantities in all rocks and soils.    You cannot smell, see or taste it but it can nonetheless be measured.   A radon measurement is usually carried out by placing two small detectors, about the size of an air freshener,  in your home for three months

The Radiological Protection Insitute of Ireland  (RPII) provide Radon measurement & maps which is accessible by the public to find out if they live in a High Radon Area.    The RPII has advised Local Authorities to carry out a radon measurement programme in their social housing, starting with thoses homes located in High Radon Areas and has written Guidance Notes to assist housing authorities in carrying out a radon measurement programme in their social housing.  This includes background information on radon, guidance on developing a radon measurement programme, making radon measurements, carrying out remediation and communicating the results of the programme.

County specific and regional radon maps are available to aid with planning radon measurement programmes and South Dublin County Council's Draft County Development Plan contains a general policy on Radon