Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 460: To ask the Minister for Health and Children her Department's plans for the community first responders; if she or her Department has identified resources for the continued training of the volunteers involved; if her Department will provide the necessary funding; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21067/07]

Pat Gallagher (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The Report of the Task Force on Sudden Cardiac Death was published in March, 2006. It 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 training initiatives should be prioritised.

The HSE, which has overall responsibility for the implementation of the report's recommendations, is currently in the process of appointing a national pre-hospital first responder coordinator, four HSE area pre-hospital first responder coordinators and six pre-hospital resuscitation training officers. Funding for the training in the use of AEDs will be decided by the HSE and will be guided by the priorities identified in the report. My Department will continue to monitor the progress being made by the HSE in implementing the recommendations of the Task Force.