Proposal for homeowners to be required to test for radon when selling property

Homeowners would have to test and remediate for high levels of radon gas when selling their property under proposed future conveyancing laws contained in a report to be considered by Government.

It comes as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published updated online radon maps detailing where in the country people are most at risk from the radioactive gas. The level of public interest in the interactive tool was such that the EPA website crashed on Thursday morning.

Radon is a naturally occurring gas that can seep into properties from the ground and is linked to about 350 cases of lung cancer annually.

Research presented at a meeting of the National Radon Forum (NRF) on Thursday shows that half a million people in Ireland now live in high radon areas, with Waterford, Carlow and Cork showing the highest concentrations.

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Ireland has the eighth highest levels out of 29 countries in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

Speaking at the NRF, Paul McDonald, head of the Environment Protection Division of the Department of the Environment, said the 2021 annual National Radon Control Strategy report is due to be presented to Government in the coming weeks.

Within it is a suggested partnership with the Law Society of Ireland and other stakeholders “towards a requirement that conveyancing legislation includes a requirement that radon testing and, where necessary, remediation is compulsory when selling a home in a high radon area”.

[ More than 170,000 homes at risk from radon gas, EPA maps show ]

Rental legislation would also change to reflect the need for such testing under the proposals, although both are at an early stage of exploration.

The EPA’s new radon mapping has increased the number of estimated homes and people at particular risk, and is viewed as a jumping-off point to increase public engagement.

“While levels of awareness are high, persuading the public to act to protect themselves from radon has proved obviously more difficult,” said Micheál Lehane, EPA director of radiation protection and environmental monitoring.

Testing is straightforward, effective and relatively cheap at a cost of about €50, while remediation works can cost up to €1,000. Eight out of 10 people have an awareness of the gas, however, research conducted by the Economic and Social Research Institute showed men in particular are less likely to test for it, while older people demonstrated lower levels of concern.

“We are not trying to make people concerned or worried but we are trying to get them to consider taking action,” said Andy Fanning of the EPA. “This sort of data tells us that there’s still a long way for us to go from awareness . . . to a situation where people will say, yes, I will take that extra step.”

It is hoped the new online mapping system will prompt that change in behaviour with awareness of the issue helped by the provision of colour-coded areas and the ability to search for for the radon risk levels with regard to specific properties.

Testing conducted on 1,700 users of the new maps found that, overall, they regarded the new tools as an improved way of communicating the issues around radon in their homes.

Other versions of the maps also highlight the risks to businesses — employers are obliged to manage the radon in the workplace.

Darren Arkins of the Health and Safety Authority said there was a notable increase in the number of employers carrying out risk assessments during Covid-19, with the number rising from 1,818 in 2018 to 3,338 in 2020.