Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
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79. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will consider fitting all Garda Stations with a defibrillator to serve their communities; if the cost of maintaining defibrillator units already fitted at Garda stations by the community could be met by her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28044/16]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will appreciate, the Garda Commissioner is primarily responsible for the provision of equipment for An Garda Síochána and I, as Minister, have no direct role in the matter.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that they are currently engaged in a procurement process for the acquisition of defibrillators and the provision of training in the use of these defibrillators.

There are no plans at present to provide funding for the maintenance of equipment that is not procured by An Garda Síochána. However, the Programme for Government commits the Government to assist in the purchase of defibrillators for public use and the Deputy will be aware that this is a matter that would, in the first instance, come within the remit of my colleague, the Minister for Health.