There are approximately 35 Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) under the remit of my Department. Prior to the recent integration of services from the Health Service Executive (HSE) and FÁS into the Department, approximately 23 of these devices had previously belonged to those organisations.
In 2013, the cost of maintenance of the original 12 AEDs and associated staff training was €6,000. The most recent device was purchased directly by the Department in 2010, for a cost of €1,462.89.
The Department is commencing a programme of staff training and maintenance in relation to the additional AEDs and as part of the consolidation and rationalisation of our property portfolio (including properties that transferred over to this Department from the HSE and FÁS) we are examining the relocation of some of these to best serve our staff and customers.
The statutory bodies operating under the aegis of the Department of Social Protection are the Citizens Information Board, the Pensions Authority, the Social Welfare Tribunal and the Office of the Pensions Ombudsman.
Citizen’s Information Board (CIB)
The Citizens Information Board has one Defibrillator located in Head Office, George’s Quay House, Townsend Street, Dublin. The office is not a public office and closes at 5.30 pm (Mon-Fri). This office building is a privately owned and managed premises.
The Defibrillator was purchased in 2008 at a cost of €2,173 (inclusive of VAT).
Pensions Authority
The Pensions Authority has one defibrillator located in their office at Verschoyle House, Mount Street, Dublin a cost of €1,500. As the office is a leased premise, with no general access to the public outside of office hours, it is not possible to make this defibrillator available in emergency cases outside of office hours. However, the defibrillator is available to the public and to two other companies, located in the same building during office hours.
Social Welfare Tribunal
Not applicable to the Tribunal due to the nature of the work.
Pensions Ombudsman
There is no defibrillator available in the Office of the Pensions Ombudsman.
The AEDs of the Department or its agencies are not available to members of the public outside of office hours. There are no plans to provide public access outside of office hours.
