Written answers

Tuesday, 21 November 2006

Department of Health and Children

Medical Aids and Appliances

9:00 am

Photo of Jack WallJack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 284: To ask the Minister for Health and Children further to Parliamentary Question No. 559 of 27 September 2006, the mechanism a voluntary group (details supplied) in County Kildare can follow to assist in the purchase of a defibrillator, in view of the work defibrillators play in the protection of human life and their value to the local community. [38556/06]

Photo of Jack WallJack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 285: To ask the Minister for Health and Children further to Parliamentary Question No. 700 of 27 September 2006 and in view of the work that defibrillators can play in the protection of human life, if she has plans to provide grant aid to sports clubs and voluntary organisations to help with the considerable purchase price of defibrillators. [38557/06]

Photo of Seán PowerSeán Power (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 284 and 285 together.

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.

The Task Force supports the establishment of first responder programmes and recommends that priority should be given to programmes, geographical locations and facilities identified as having the greatest need. All programmes should be coordinated by the HSE ambulance services, with best practice guidance from the Pre Hospital Emergency Care Council.

The Task Force also recommends 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 plans to provide grant aid to assist in the purchase of AEDs for these or other facilities. Where funding for AEDs or first responder schemes 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.

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