Ireland's State of the Environment Report 2024

383 Chapter 14: Environment, Health and Wellbeing 9 www.epa.ie/publications/monitoring--assessment/radon/The-National-Radon-Control-Strategy-Phase-2.pdf (access 26 September 2024). Digital radon gas detector. Strengthening of passive prevention measures for radon in new builds is a priority focus of the government’s National Radon Control Strategy (2019–2024). 9 Updated building guidance from the DHLGH published in 2023 references the new radon risk map and restates the requirements for all new buildings to be fitted with a standby radon sump and for all new buildings in areas with high radon levels to have a radon membrane installed (Technical Guidance Document C). All employers with workplaces in areas with high radon levels are required to test them for radon and must remediate where necessary. Recognising that primary prevention in new builds is the most effective way of protecting the population against radon, strengthening radon prevention measures in new builds nationwide irrespective of radon risk must be a critical element of national action to protect citizens from this modifiable cancer risk. Protection against radon in older buildings and homes is an area requiring specific focus. The Programme for Government set an ambitious target of retrofitting 500,000 homes by 2030. While the target of 500,000 retrofits moves Ireland in the right direction in its ambitions to become a sustainable, low-carbon and energy-efficient economy, research has highlighted the potential for radon levels to increase or decrease following a home retrofit, depending on the ventilation strategy employed during the retrofit, with increases linked to insufficient ventilation post retrofit (McGrath et al ., 2021). It is critical that ambitions under the national retrofit programme are used as an opportunity to reduce the levels of radon in our existing building stock and that sufficient measures, such as a post-retrofit radon measurement, are used to ensure that levels of radon are below the national reference level. The EPA strongly recommends that all existing households test their homes for radon and take action if the levels are high.