Radon tests for 2,000 Galway Council properties as one in five face high-risk zone

Galway County Council is to carry out radon testing in more than 2,000 properties across the county under a new two-year programme with one in five in a red zone risk area.

Published 23rd Oct 2026, 19:01 GMT Stock Photo Galway County Council is to carry out radon testing in more than 2,000 properties across the county under a new two-year programme with one in five in a red zone risk area. According to tender documents, the 2,173 houses and apartments have been identified as being within the '1 in 5' red zone for radon risk.

The properties range from terraced and semi-detached homes to detached houses in urban and rural areas across all five municipal districts.

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Tuam has the largest number, with 631 properties identified for testing, followed by Ballinasloe with 554.

A further 366 are in Conamara, 345 in Athenry-Oranmore and 277 in Loughrea.

The '1 in 5' classification means the properties are located in areas where at least one in five homes is predicted to have radon levels above the national reference level.

Most of the homes will be occupied while the testing is carried out, with the successful contractor required to arrange access in advance with tenants.

Two radon detectors will be placed in each home– one in the living room and another in a regularly used bedroom.

Craughwell residents demand answers as families face dangerous walks into village From luxury resort to bomb blast: The story of Bill Fuller’s Teach Furbo The detectors will remain in place for at least three months and for no longer than 12 months, meaning more than 4,300 detectors could be deployed across the county.

Galway County Council is currently evaluating bids for the contract, which has an estimated value of €120,000.

The Council had already signalled the move in its 2026 budget, stating that a contract would be tendered for radon testing of “at-risk properties” in line with the EPA's updated Radon Risk Map.

Tender documents state that the 2,173 properties had been identified within the “1 in 5” category using the Council's GIS data as of February 10.

The results will be analysed by an EPA-registered radon measurement service, with seasonal adjustment factors applied before being reported to the Council.

Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas which can enter buildings from the ground and build up indoors.