Mary Mitchell O'Connor (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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163. To ask the Minister for Health his Department and the Health Service Executive's policy in respect of the provision of epi-pens; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48599/14]

Mary Mitchell O'Connor (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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164. To ask the Minister for Health the number of children who are in receipt of epi-pens; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48600/14]

Mary Mitchell O'Connor (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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165. To ask the Minister for Health his views on introducing a scheme to make epi-pens available in schools, workplaces and other public places, similar to the provision of defibrillators; and if he will introduce a scheme to train volunteers as first responders. [48601/14]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 163 to 165, inclusive, together.

Under the current legislation, epi-pens (adrenaline auto-injectors), as injectable medicines, may only be supplied on foot of a valid prescription. However there is provision in the Medicinal Products (Prescription and Control of Supply) Regulations 2003, as amended, whereby a pharmacist may, in emergency circumstances, supply certain prescription only medicines, including adrenaline auto-injectors without a prescription. The Regulations also permit advanced paramedics, paramedics and emergency medical technicians to supply certain medicines including adrenaline auto-injectors in emergency situations.

My Department is reviewing policy in this area and will shortly carry out a consultation process on wider availability of a number of prescription only medicines used in emergency situations, including adrenaline auto-injectors.

This review will explore, among other things, the use of clinical practice guidelines or protocols by means of which non- health professionals may supply and administer adrenaline auto-injectors without the need for an individual prescription. These guidelines would cover the training requirements as well as aspects such as the supply of the auto-injectors, the certification of the establishment where the auto-injectors are located, their storage and persons responsible for their storage and record keeping.

There is no information available on the total number of children who are in receipt of adrenaline auto-injectors. The Primary Care Reimbursement Service (PCRS) of the Health Service Executive (HSE) has information only on claims made under the General Medical Card (GMS) scheme for children within the age group (0-15 years). The number of children within that age group who received adrenalin auto-injectors from January to October, 2014 was 1,842.