Willie Penrose (Westmeath, Labour)
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Question 335: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if her Department has a fund available to help community and voluntary groups to provide portable defibrillators to these groups and sporting clubs, as they would be important in the prevention of tragic sudden deaths; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31960/06]

Seán Power (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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In September 2004 a national Task Force on Sudden Cardiac Death was established in order to address the problem of sudden cardiac death in Ireland. The Report of the Task Force, published in March 2006, makes recommendations on the prevention of sudden cardiac death and on the detection of those at high risk. Among the recommendations of the Task Force is that Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) should be placed in facilities where the incidence of cardiac arrest is high, including:

inpatient health facilities;

G.P. surgeries and primary care facilities;

airports, shopping centres, major sports venues and golf courses, bus/rail terminals, ferries/ferry terminals, concert and conference venues;

universities and colleges;

gyms and fitness clubs; and

other venues for major public events.

My Department has no fund available to assist in the purchase of AEDs for these or other facilities. Where such funding is required, the Health Service Executive, which has overall responsibility for the implementation of the report's recommendations, may consider such applications, subject to financial constraints and guided by the priorities identified in the report. I understand that implementation of many of the most immediate recommendations in the report is already underway and it is planned to start implementing the others before the end of the year. My Department will continue to monitor the progress being made by the HSE in implementing the recommendations of the Task Force.