Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what recent assessment they have made of the levels of radon in Northern Ireland; and what steps they are taking to protect the public's health.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) works closely on radon matters with counterparts in the Northern Ireland Civil Service. This includes coordination on the production of radon potential maps. These maps are produced from radon measurements in homes that have been combined with the underlying geology to estimate the probability that a property in a particular location will exceed the Action Level for homes. Radon potential is also a good indicator for most workplaces and informs health and safety and building regulations.

The radon measurements that contribute to radon potential maps are from those conducted by private householders and landlords through UKHSA’s radon measurement service. The most recent radon potential map for Northern Ireland was published in 2015. This indicated that 155,000 homes (about one in five in Northern Ireland) are now in ‘Affected Areas’. These are places where some households are exposed to radon at a level where we recommend protective action.

A revised radon potential map for Great Britain was published in December 2022. This was prompted by significant increases in the number of results available, a major revision of the geological data from British Geological Survey and an updated statistical method. The Northern Ireland map from 2015 already used the revised statistical method, the geological data have not changed and the increase in radon results in homes has not been sufficient to justify re-mapping.

Numerous Government organisations in Northern Ireland are closely involved in the production of the second edition of the National Radon Action Plan (NRAP). This ensures that any territorial differences in the arrangements for radon control, regulations and messaging are considered. The Environmental Public Health Protection Network also provides a forum for UKHSA and public health in Northern Ireland to ensure that radon is included in campaigns such as indoor air quality.