Departmental Equipment

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 15 May 2014

Thursday, 15 May 2014

Ceisteanna (159)

Seán Fleming

Ceist:

159. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of defibrillators located in Government offices and buildings under the remit of his Department and those under his aegis throughout the country; if these are available in emergency cases outside of office hours to the community in the locations where they are based; the number and cost of same; if he will consider putting some arrangement in place, in the interest of health and safety, whereby these defibrillators can be located where the public can access them out of office hours; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22378/14]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

There are a total of 7 defibrillators located in my Department's offices, as set out in the following table

Department office	No. of Defibrillators
Custom House	3
Wexford	1
Ballina	1
Tubbercurry	2

As the equipment was purchased at different times, costs varied, but the average cost of each defibrillator was €2,000.

The defibrillators are available for emergencies involving staff or visitors to my Department's offices during normal working hours. As the offices concerned are not open to the public outside those hours, access to the defibrillators is not available during these periods. In addition, the use of a defibrillator requires specialist training and its improper use would have public health and safety considerations as such use could result in serious injury or a fatality.