Vol. 483 No. 2
20 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Health and Children if the Irish Medicines Board has renewed the licence of the Blood Transfusion Service Board to manufacture blood products at its current facility in Cork; and, if so, if he will give details of the conditions, if any, attached to this licence. [19853/97]
52 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will make provision for the development of the Blood Transfusion Service Board facility in Cork. [19837/97]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 20 and 52 together.
The development plan for the Blood Transfusion Service Board provides for major reorganisation and redevelopment of the service to ensure it is in a position to meet international standards in transfusion medicine. As part of the necessary reorganisation of the Blood Transfusion Service Board significant developments are taking place nationally, including at the Cork centre. In particular new appointments in information technology, quality assurance and future consultant appointments will strengthen the entire organisation. My Department has recently made available a capital allocation of £500,000 to the BTSB to progress the vehicle and equipment replacement programme at the Dublin and Cork centres.
The BTSB is fully committed to ensuring that the Cork centre continues to meet the standards required by the Irish Medicines Board. The board, in conjunction with my Department, has decided that the Cork centre requires major replacement. An options appraisal study is under way to assess the options available to meet laboratory and donor clinic requirements. It is also necessary to address interim refurbishments of existing accommodation and architects are being engaged to oversee these refurbishments. My Department will make available the necessary resources to achieve the above objectives.
As regards the manufacturing licence, the current licence expires on 30 November next. A special condition attached to the licence refers to the area used for the processing of donations at the Cork centre. The Irish Medicines Board requires a timetable for the upgrading or replacement of this area. A meeting between officials of the IMB, the BTSB and my Department took place on 29 October last to agree how best to proceed to meet the requirements of the IMB. Arising from the meeting a detailed timescale for refurbishment-replacement will be submitted to the IMB in the next few days to meet the requirements of a renewal of the manufacturing licence.
