James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Question 315: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she will introduce a cardiac arrest registry in order that ambulance response times can be monitored; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11596/08]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The Sudden Cardiac Death Task Force Report recommended that the Pre-Hospital Emergency Care Council (PHECC) establish a national Cardiac Arrest Register. My Department has allocated funding of €200,000 to PHECC to facilitate the establishment of this register.

The HSE North-West Area initiated a pilot scheme for an Out of Hospital Cardiac Arrest Register. PHECC will refine and extend this initiative over the next two years, initially to the HSE Western area and ultimately to the entire country. Monitoring of ambulance response times is already carried out by the HSE. The Cardiac Arrest Register will facilitate monitoring response times of both statutory and voluntary responders.

Operational responsibility for the management and delivery of health and personal social services is a matter for the Health Service Executive and funding for all health services has been provided as part of its overall Vote. Therefore, my Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have a more comprehensive reply issued directly to the Deputy.