Kildare County Council to review request for two defibrillators in this MD

Kildare County Council is to review a request to connect two defibrillator units to ESB lampposts within the Clane-Maynooth Municipal District.

The move follows a motion tabled by Cllr Donna Phelan (FF) at a monthly MD meeting held on Friday, July 4 2025, which stressed the “urgency” of the measure.

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Cllr Phelan's motion stated that while the ESB had raised no objections to the connection of the defibrillator units in the MD, the lampposts are managed by Kildare County Council, and she was therefore seeking permission to proceed.

Speaking at the meeting, Cllr Phelan said she welcomed the council's willingness to review her request and to engage with the ESB around safety protocols.

However, she said, she would strongly urge the council to approach the matter with urgency, as “these defibrillators have the potential to save lives.”

Similar initiatives have proven successful in Edenderry, she pointed out, through collaboration between the local authority and community responders.

Cllr Phelan said she would ask Kildare County Council to actively support community first responders by providing “clear guidance and timely engagement.”

She said that our communities rely on community volunteers, and that we should be doing everything we can not to delay their efforts in responding to emergencies.

Speaking in support of the motion, Cllr William Durkan (FG) said that as a first aid responder in his own workplace, he was well aware of how important defibrillators can be.

He noted that defibrillators have been implemented “everywhere” across the MD, so that anything that can be done to support the community first responders should be put forward as a priority.

Cllr Durkan told the council this was a “great motion”, and it was “great” to see it brought forward.

Also supporting the motion, and noting the council's report, Cllr Tim Durkan (FG) pointed out that “if it's possible for us to connect Christmas lights to street lights, it should be possible for us to connect defibrillators.”

He said defibrillators are implemented in every town, “in Maynooth, in Kilcock... so I can't see what the possible problem might be.”

A report issued by Kildare County Council stated: “Kildare County Council will need to review this request in line with safety protocols and in consultation with the ESB. The applicant should contact The Public Lighting Team, publiclights@kildarecoco.ie directly to discuss details of the proposal including connectivity and the proposed location.”