Vol. 445 No. 8
115 Mr. B. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Health if he will expand the programme for testing bone marrow transplant donors; if he will apply a charge to each person who wishes to be tested in the event of his Department being unable to provide the required finance; and the approximate cost of each such test. [1203/94]
116 Mr. B. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Health the programme for testing suitable donors for bone marrow transplants in Ireland; the number of people in the transplant databank; and the reason such a small number of people are tested and consequently such a small number of suitable donors are available in Ireland at the current time. [1204/94]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 115 and 116 together. The Irish Marrow Registry was set up under the aegis of the Blood Transfusion Service Board in 1989 to provide volunteer bone marrow donors for patients needing bone marrow transplants who did not have compatible family donors. The registry is linked to other similar registries worldwide.
The Irish Marrow Register is administered by the Blood Transfusion Service Board and was set up mainly by funds provided by voluntary sources. The initial target of 10,000 people on the Register has been achieved. It is now estimated that the figure of 10,000 will have to be substantially increased over the coming years. The Board is carrying out a review of the level of resources which would be necessary to fund this expansion. I understand that the results of this examination will be reported to me as soon as it is complete.
