I propose to take Questions Nos. 442, 443 and 466 together.
I have sought an urgent report from Beaumont Hospital on recent reports that the living donor related transplant programme has been suspended. I identified the development of a living-related renal donor programme as a service priority in 2006. As part of the overall development of renal services my Department provided revenue funding of €8m to the HSE to support the provision of dialysis facilities and the development of a living related donor programme. Additional funding of €4m has also been provided in 2007 to continue to support the national development of renal services.
The HSE has advised that it has approved three additional consultant posts for the programme and is also working with the hospital to increase available theatre capacity for the programme. My Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have the specific issues raised investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.