Phone masts could harm children, claim campaigners

Government plans to allow a mobile phone mast near two south Dublin schools could harm children’s health, it was claimed today.

Campaigners fear radiation from the base station on a public building in Rathmines will pose unknown risks to pupils.

John Gormley, Green Party chairman, said he was totally opposed to the mast and called on Tom Parlon, junior minister at the Office of Public Works to step in and block any building work.

It is understood builders will move in over the weekend to erect the base station on Ardee House, the Dublin home of the Central Statistics Office.

“Even at this late stage we are hoping that the Government will reconsider this ill-advised and irresponsible decision,” Mr Gormley said.

Schoolchildren, teachers, locals and politicians gathered at Ardee House to protest against the base station.

A total of 120 mobile phone masts have been built on garda stations around the country since 1996.

Two public buildings in Dublin and one in Cork have masts while a further 17 have been identified as possible new sites, the Office of Public Works confirmed.

It is estimated the Government will earn around €1m in rent from mobile operators using the masts in 2005.

Planning development guidelines recommend masts are built more than 50m from schools, but it is understood masts can be erected on public buildings without applying for planning permission.

The Green Party TD said pupils at St Louis High School and St Mary’s College Rathmines will be exposed to high radiation levels even if the mast does follow the 50m guideline. Experts also believe youngsters can absorb radiation easier than adults.

A spokesman for the Office of Public Works said the Department followed planning rules and met strict criteria before any masts were installed.

“As part of licensing and installing equipment we are required to have a strict compliance with all health and safety rules and European Union regulations and guidelines,” he said.

Some studies into mobile phone radiation have suggested children could be more vulnerable to the effects of microwave radiation emissions as their nervous systems were not fully developed and their skull is thinner providing less protection.