Medical Aids and Appliances Provision

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 15 May 2014

Thursday, 15 May 2014

Ceisteanna (98)

Seán Fleming

Ceist:

98. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of defibrillators that are 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 in the community in the locations where they are based; the number and cost of same; if he will consider putting some arrangement in place whereby these defibrillators can be located where the public can get access to them during out-of-office-hours times in the interest of health and safety; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22381/14]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation

The provision of Automated External Defibrillators (‘AEDs’) in the workplace is recommended by the Irish Heart Foundation and the Health and Safety Authority, and is a facility which has been made increasingly available by employers, including the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation (DJEI).

The use and maintenance of AED is covered by my Department’s AED Policy, which was adopted in 2011. The following Table sets out the information requested, in respect of the Department’s 12 workplace locations in Ireland. These AED facilities have been in place, variously since at least 2008.

DJEI building/ Office	Location	No. AEDs maintained	Initial cost €	Annual  maintenance (approx.)
-	-	-	-	€
Headquarters	Dublin	3	3,900	see below
Davitt House	Dublin	3	3,900	see below
Earlsfort Centre	Dublin	3	3,900	1,300
Tom Johnson House	Dublin	3	6,014	450
Harcourt Rd.	Dublin	1	1,210	150
Parnell House	Dublin	1	2,443	150
Parnell Square	Dublin	1	1,744	150
NERA & CRO	Carlow	2	see below	-
NERA	Sligo	1	see below	-
NERA	Shannon	1	see below	-
NERA	Cork	1	16,175	1,000
Patents	Kilkenny	0	-	by OPW
Totals	-	20	39,286	3,200 p.a.

The use of AEDs at the Department’s workplace locations is confined to staff personnel specifically trained in the use and application of external defibrillation. The availability of AEDs is also subject to the availability of such trained personnel during working hours, as well as access to the building at the workplace in question.

The use of AED in the event of emergency is available equally to staff and visiting members of the public, at any of the Department’s locations.

The question of my Department making AEDs available to the public out of office hours entails additional considerations relating to building access and security as well as potential liability and insurance issues and is not contemplated at this time.

As the Deputy will glean from the data provided, my Department has, particularly in recent years, made a significant investment of resources in, and added to the response available in a medical emergency.

I am satisfied therefore that my Department has made a positive contribution to, and continues to maintain an emergency medical response, in line with best practice in workplace Health and Safety.