Vol. 513 No. 6
268 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health and Children the reason for the situation where the number of organ transplants fell in 1999 with the number of organ donors lower than in 1998; and the figures for each year. [3091/00]
I am concerned by the decline last year in organ donation and transplant rates. The number of multi-organ donors in the years 1998 and 1999 are as follows; number of organ donors 1998 – 91; number of organ donors 1999 – 72. The figures for organ transplants for these years in total are; 1998 – 201; 1999 – 150.
The number of donors in 1999 was broadly in line with numbers reported in the years 1996 and 1997 but significantly lower than the 1998 performance.
The Irish Kidney Association, with the support of national lottery funding allocated by my Department, conducts an ongoing national organ donor campaign and produces a multi-organ donor card. This has contributed to Ireland's position of having one of the highest rates of organ donation in Europe. The association's public awareness programme is recognised throughout Europe as being very effective and has been used as a model for donor campaigns in other countries. I have been informed by the association that, in collaboration with other donor support groups, they are in the process of launching a new campaign in the near future. The supply of an adequate number of donors is a prerequisite for the continuing provision and development of a comprehensive organ transplant service. Accordingly, I stress the continued need to highlight the importance of organ donation and to encourage people to carry the appropriate donor cards.
