Seán Power (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)

I am replying on behalf of my colleague, the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Harney. I thank Deputy Lowry for raising this matter as it provides me with an opportunity to outline details of the work in progress to potentially reduce the number of sudden cardiac deaths in the community.

I am advised that the provision of community-based cardiac defibrillators or automated external defibrillators, AED, including their placement, the ongoing training of relevant personnel and community volunteers and related issues are being examined by the recently established task force on sudden cardiac death. The task force, chaired by Dr. Brian Maurer, was established in September 2004.

In its terms of reference the task force was asked to define sudden cardiac death and describe its incidence and underlying causes in Ireland. It was also asked to advise on the detection and assessment of those at high risk of sudden cardiac death and their relatives, and to advise on the systematic assessment of those engaged in sports and exercise for risk of sudden cardiac death. The terms of reference also asked the task force to advise on maximizing access to basic life support, BLS, and automated external defibrillators and on appropriate levels of training in BLS and use of AED and on the maintenance of that training; identifying priority individuals and priority groups for such training; identifying geographic areas and functional locations of greatest need; best practice models of "first responder schemes" and "public access defibrillation" and the integration of such training services.

The task force is also to advise on the establishment and maintenance of surveillance systems, including a registry of sudden cardiac death and information systems to monitor risk assessment and training and equipment programmes. In addition, it is to advise and make recommendations on other priority issues relevant to sudden cardiac death in Ireland and it is to outline a plan for implementation and to advise on monitoring the implementation of recommendations made in its report.

I am advised that the task force has engaged in an extensive consultation process with key stakeholders, including relevant groups and bodies. As part of this process, the task force wrote to a number of organisations earlier this year seeking their views and suggestions on how the task force's objectives could be achieved. The task force also placed an advertisement in the national media on 11 February 2005 inviting submissions from interested members of the public and private, professional and voluntary organisations and other parties.

I understand that over 80 submissions were received and that most of those who made submissions were invited to participate in a consultation day on 7 April at which these issues were discussed further. Another consultation day was held on 13 May 2005 on issues relating to the task force's fifth term of reference, which is to advise on the establishment and maintenance of surveillance systems, including a registry of sudden cardiac death and information systems to monitor risk assessment and training and equipment programmes. This involved some task force members meeting representatives of the Irish College of General Practitioners, the Central Statistics Office, the Faculty of Pathology and others.

I understand that the task force has received active co-operation and support from all those consulted. I am advised that the report is now being prepared and should be completed by the autumn. Its recommendations will inform future policy in this area.

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