To ask the Minister of Health whether his Department has any plans to address the disparity in automated external defibrillator access between the most and least deprived areas.

The Northern Ireland Ambulance Service (NIAS) is leading on the implementation of the Community Resuscitation Strategy and recognise there are inequalities in survivability from out-of-hospital cardiac arrest between more and less deprived communities, and this remains an important public health concern.

Addressing these disparities aligns with the Making Life Better framework, which focuses on reducing health inequalities and improving outcomes through targeted, community-based interventions.

In line with the NIAS Corporate Plan 2024–26, which prioritises equitable access to emergency care and improved outcomes across all communities, ongoing work by NIAS includes:

•identifying gaps in AED coverage using data and mapping tools;

•collaborating with local councils, community organisations and the voluntary sector to target areas of greatest need;

•supporting community led AED schemes, particularly in rural and socioeconomically deprived areas; and

•exploring evidence-based approaches to optimise AED placement and maximise impact.

Through a coordinated, partnership-based approach, NIAS and its partners are working to ensure that access to life-saving interventions is not determined by geography or deprivation.