Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)

Regarding the reassurance programme mentioned by Deputy O'Sullivan, it was originally funded at a time when the Irish Blood Transfusion Service was in deficit. The board has subsequently been in surplus and has met the costs from its own resources. While in public financial terms it may appear the Health Service Executive, HSE, is no longer funding the programme it has had no effect on the provision of the programme. The reassurance programme is as it has always been and the suggestion that there has been a cutback relating to it is inaccurate.

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