Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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432. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if a grant is available to sports clubs for the purposes of purchasing for the club and training members with AED defibrillator devices; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63367/22]

Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail)
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In relation to my Department's responsibilities, the Sports Capital and Equipment Programme (SCEP) is the primary vehicle for Government support for the development of sports and physical recreation facilities and the purchase of non-personal sports equipment throughout the country. Grants are available for a wide variety of capital works and non-personal sports equipment including first aid kits and defibrillators.

In relation to future rounds of the SCEP, following completion of the appeal process last year, my Department commenced a full review of all aspects of the 2020 round of the SCEP. A draft of the Review has now been complete and I expect to be in a position to publish it shortly. Any recommendations arising from the Review will be reflected in the next round. Furthermore, my officials are engaging with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in relation to the next round of the SCEP. Once these discussions are concluded, I will announce the exact dates from which new applications will be accepted.

Defibrillators situated at sports clubs are generally also for community use and I am aware that funding is also available through the HSE’s national lottery grants schemes and other community grants schemes. At a local level, the network of local sports partnerships throughout the country delivers education and training opportunities across a broad range of areas to local sports clubs and community groups. This includes first aid workshops, which typically cover CPR and-or defibrillator training as part of the content.

A number of national governing bodies of sport also have schemes in place to support their club networks in cardiac care, screening and defibrillator training. The GAA’s community heart programme, the FAI’s heart care programme and the IRFU’s safe rugby programme are excellent examples of proactive supports to assist clubs and members to participate safely in sport.