Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 12 May 1992

Vol. 419 No. 5

Written Answers. - Liver Transplants Funding.

Ivor Callely

Question:

164 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Health if he will outline the funding which his Department will provide for the purchase of equipment and carrying out of liver transplants in Ireland; if he will give details of the number of transplants which will be carried out in 1992; and if he will further give details of (1) the full year allocation for transplant and (2) the amount of moneys which were spent in 1991 for such operations to be carried out abroad.

Minister for Health (Dr. O'Connell)

My Department is having discussions with the hospitals concerned on the question of equipment necessary for liver transplantation. In 1992, my department allocated substantial funding for liver transplantation as follows: £300,000 to St. Vincent's Hospital and £100,000 to Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children.

It is intended that liver transplantation will recommence on a phased basis in Ireland from September of this year but it is not possible at this stage to say how many transplants will be carried out here.

In 1991, 18 patients received liver transplants abroad. Two of these patients required re-transplants. In addition 14 patients were referred abroad for assessment and 6 of these are awaiting transplants. This cost to the health boards was approximately £860,000. (The final statement of accounts has not been received for all of these patients, thus the figures are provisional at this stage).