Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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199. To ask the Minister for Health the way in which a business can access funding for a defibrillator (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43460/24]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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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.

The National Ambulance Service (NAS) are not aware of any funding schemes that can be applied for by private companies, however large industrial estates may have access to a public AED. Public AEDs are very often funded by local charity initiatives or by local businesses. Once a defibrillator has been made publicly accessible, it can be added to the NAS database and the location can made visible to our NAS Emergency Call Takers. In the event of a 112/999 call being made to NAS for a person who may require a defibrillator, if there is a defibrillator available in the vicinity of the incident, the emergency call taker will be able to direct the caller to the defibrillator location so that it can brought to the patient. More information on NAS defibrillator locations can be found here:

www.nationalambulanceservice.ie/community/