This article is from page 2 of the 2006-06-20 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 2 JPG
IRELAND’S nuclear watchdog says one in five homes in Ennis has high radon levels and equivalent to those facing workers in Sellafield.
The Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland (RPII) says the convictions secured against three Ennis companies last week will encourage it to take other cases, if necessary.
The Clare People has learned that over the past 16 years, 1,634 homes in Clare have been measured for radon levels. 14.9 per cent of those have shown levels higher than the recommended safe level. 137 schools in the county have also been measured during this time, 17 per cent of which have exceeded the recommended safe level. RPII spokesman David Fenton said people in the areas above the recommended level “are experiencing levels comparable to workers at a nuclear station.”
Radon, the gas which is linked to 200 lung cancer deaths each year, is particularly high in Ennis, along with Tralee, he said. This was one of the reasons those towns were targeted by the RPII.
“One in five houses in Ennis have problems with radon. While there is no legislation governing radon in homes, awareness is important,” he said. Mr Fenton also expressed satisfaction that convictions were secured against three Ennis companies in the District Court last week.
The court proceedings arose after the companies failed to comply with directions issued by the RPII. Thirty companies in total were picked at random in May 2004 and issued with directions. The failure of the three to follow the directions, resulted in the court action.
“We are pleased with the outcome of the court case. There may well be other cases in Ennis. We won’t hesitate to prosecute companies who don’t comply with directions,” he said. He also stressed that when tests were carried out on the premises of the companies that were prosecuted, radon levels low and staff were not at risk. The RPII is encouraging householders to carry out their own radon tests. For details: 1800 300 600.