Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein)
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133. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if consideration will be given to working with construction firms to have AED equipment installed at large scale construction sites; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8100/23]

Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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The availability of Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) in public areas throughout the Country has increased in recent years with many local authorities and sports facilities taking the lead in installing these potentially life saving pieces of equipment. The provision of such equipment on a construction site, or any other place of work, would be categorised under the provision of first-aid. Provision of first-aid at a place of work is regulated by the provisions of Chapter 2 of Part 7: First-Aid of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (General Application) Regulations 2007 to 2021. Guidance on this statutory instrument, and its application, is available from the Health and Safety Authority.

The Health and Safety Authority works closely with all stakeholders involved in the construction industry primarily through the Construction Safety Partnership (CSPAC) which is an advisory committee to the Board of the Health and Safety Authority. Construction industry employers, worker and clients are all represented on this committee and throughout the year programs advocating safety matters in the construction sector are promoted through various media and other platforms .

I will ask the Health and Safety Authority to explore with the CSPAC how the availability of AED equipment on construction sites can be better promoted and supported across the construction sector.