The organisation and management of the national blood transfusion service is a matter for the Blood Transfusion Service Board, BTSB, as specified in its Establishment Order. The BTSB recently completed the provision of new components processing and compatibility testing laboratories at the Cork centre at a cost of £464,000. Funding for this project was made available by my Department as a matter of priority in order to ensure that the BTSB continues to meet the requirements of the Irish Medicines Board, IMB. The BTSB has advised that the new laboratory is now among the best of its kind in Europe, and that, at a recent inspection by the IMB, the level of compliance was in accordance with the EC guide to good manufacturing practice. Additional capital requirements specified recently by the IMB are currently being assessed by the BTSB. My Department will consider further proposals from the board for additional capital investment including resources necessary to ensure regulatory compliance.