Robert O'Donoghue (Dublin Fingal West, Labour)
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380. To ask the Minister for Health the number of defibrillators currently located in public buildings (details supplied), by county, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56318/25]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Robert O'Donoghue (Dublin Fingal West, Labour)
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381. To ask the Minister for Health if she will report on the absence of a comprehensive, up-to-date, public register of automated external defibrillators (AED); if she has plans to develop or support the creation of a national AED register and mapping system, accessible to the public and emergency services, to enable faster emergency response; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56319/25]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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The Health Service Executive commissioned an Out of Hospital Cardiac Arrest Strategy (OHCA) for Ireland. The OHCA Strategy Governance Implementation Group has a specific aim to implement a National AED Registry which is mapped to the National Ambulance Service (NAS), National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC) ambulance dispatch system, and a supporting application for dispatching first responders to the scene of an emergency.

The critical role of community first response in improving cardiac arrest survival rates is wholly recognised in the National Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest Strategy (OHCA) – Putting Survival at the Heart of the Community (2019). It is the aim of the multi-agency OHCA Strategy Governance Implementation Group (which includes representation from Community First Responders (CFR) Ireland) that Ireland should achieve similar survival rates to our best-performing European neighbours, which are consistently around 10%. In 2024, percentage survival from OHCA rose to 8% with 232 people returning home to their families – an additional 54 people when compared with 2021, so Ireland is well on the way to achieving this aim.

A key recommendation of the OHCA Strategy was to develop a CFR application (CFR App) and a registry of publicly available automated external defibrillators (AED Registry) for the Republic of Ireland. Work is at an advanced stage with the CFR App currently being trialled by six CFR groups, with plans for further expansion in 2026. The tendering process for the establishment of a comprehensive AED national register is also at a similarly advanced stage.

These developments will provide the technological backbone needed to ensure community first response in Ireland is optimised. In time, such projects have the potential to benefit everyone living on, working in or visiting the island of Ireland. This technology will enable publicly accessible defibrillators (AEDs) to be registered in a robust and systematic manner. In the event of a cardiac arrest call, location of AEDs will then be available to emergency ambulance call takers, who can in turn direct the caller to the nearest device. Ireland already has a network of over 330 Community First Responder schemes involving some 4,500 volunteers capable of providing an immediate first response to OHCA in their communities. While the current text alert system works well, a CFR App will streamline the process for dispatching and monitoring CFRs as necessary. Most importantly, this technology is proven in international best practice to increase survival from OHCA.

Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) are available in many locations across society under the management of various organisations. AEDs are among the various items eligible for funding under the Community Sport Facilities Fund.

The Community Sport Facilities Fund (formerly the Sports Capital & Equipment Programme) is operated by the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media and provides grants to assist in the development or refurbishment of sports facilities and the provision of sports equipment. Grants are available to voluntary, not-for profit sports clubs, community groups, National Governing Bodies of Sport, and local authorities. Third level colleges, Education and Training Boards (ETBs) and schools may only apply for funding jointly with sports clubs or organisations.

The programme funds the purchase of AEDs for the above-mentioned groups and many of these are also available to the wider community.

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.

From the 1st of January 2023, my Department through the Department of Finance removed VAT from AEDs to make the cost more feasible for groups, organisations or individuals looking to purchase an AED.

Robert O'Donoghue (Dublin Fingal West, Labour)
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382. To ask the Minister for Health if funding will be made available to Fingal County Council to fund an initiative (details supplied) to support the provision of first responder training for members of the public and community organisations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56320/25]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.