Parliamentary Question addressed to the Minister for Health

To ask the Minister for Health his plans to introduce a national organ donor registry; his plans to increase the level of organ donation; and if he will make a statement on the matter?

Reply
 

My Department is currently developing the Heads of a Human Tissue Bill that will establish a legal framework in relation to the donation of organs for transplantation. A register of those who do not wish to become organ donors after death is envisaged in the context of the introduction of an opt-out system of consent.

Funding for the appointment of 19 whole-time-equivalent personnel was allocated to the HSE in 2014 to recruit Consultants, Organ Donation Nurse Managers, Organ Procurement Co-ordinators and Quality Officers. The additional staff will work to foster a strong culture of organ donation, to optimise conversion rates and, ultimately, to increase the number of transplantations that are carried out each year. Four people have been recruited to date and progress is being made towards filling all posts. The impact of this additional investment will become evident in 2015 and beyond.