Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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98. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of defibrillators that are located in Government offices and buildings under the remit of his Department and those under his aegis throughout the country; if these are available in emergency cases outside of office hours in the community in the locations where they are based; the number and cost of same; if he will consider putting some arrangement in place whereby these defibrillators can be located where the public can get access to them during out-of-office-hours times in the interest of health and safety; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22381/14]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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The provision of Automated External Defibrillators (‘AEDs’) in the workplace is recommended by the Irish Heart Foundation and the Health and Safety Authority, and is a facility which has been made increasingly available by employers, including the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation (DJEI).

The use and maintenance of AED is covered by my Department’s AED Policy, which was adopted in 2011. The following Table sets out the information requested, in respect of the Department’s 12 workplace locations in Ireland. These AED facilities have been in place, variously since at least 2008.

The use of AEDs at the Department’s workplace locations is confined to staff personnel specifically trained in the use and application of external defibrillation. The availability of AEDs is also subject to the availability of such trained personnel during working hours, as well as access to the building at the workplace in question.

The use of AED in the event of emergency is available equally to staff and visiting members of the public, at any of the Department’s locations.

The question of my Department making AEDs available to the public out of office hours entails additional considerations relating to building access and security as well as potential liability and insurance issues and is not contemplated at this time.

As the Deputy will glean from the data provided, my Department has, particularly in recent years, made a significant investment of resources in, and added to the response available in a medical emergency.

I am satisfied therefore that my Department has made a positive contribution to, and continues to maintain an emergency medical response, in line with best practice in workplace Health and Safety.