Catherine Byrne (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I will read my reply and then speak again on the issues raised by the Deputy. On behalf of the Minister, Deputy Harris, I thank the Deputy for raising this matter, as it gives me the opportunity to update the House. Most of my reply is probably information that the Deputy already has, but I will read it in any event.

Organ donation is one of the most selfless acts that one person can perform for another. Last year was a record year for organ transplantation, with 311 transplants carried out, well in excess of the previous high of 296. This included 192 kidney transplants. The kidney transplant figure included 51 living kidney transplants, itself a record for a year. I thank the families of deceased donors for their kindness in times of great distress. I also thank the living donors for their significant generosity in giving the opportunity of life-changing transplantation to their loved ones.

The Department of Health introduced a scheme to reimburse the expenses of living donors in 2014. The reimbursement scheme applies to persons who have been selected as potential donors by the living donor programme at Beaumont Hospital and to those who, under the clinical supervision of the national renal transplant programme in Beaumont, travel to the UK for a paired kidney donation.

In line with the European Union (Quality and Safety of Human Organs intended for Transplantation) Regulations 2012, a key principle of organ donation is that it should be voluntary and unpaid. However, it is recognised that most living donors incur some financial losses when donating a kidney. The living donor reimbursement scheme is based on the premise that any reimbursement granted does not provide a financial incentive or award to a potential donor. The scheme aims to minimise financial disincentives for such donors as far as is feasible. It provides for the reimbursement of any loss of earnings incurred by living kidney donors as well as of accommodation and travel expenses incurred as a direct result of their donations. Loss of earnings by salaried, waged and self-employed donors incurred from the time that the donation takes place up to 12 weeks post-donation are eligible for reimbursement. A maximum of €10,000 applies in respect of lost earnings. Reasonable travel and accommodation expenses incurred from when the person has been selected as a potential donor, during the inpatient stay when the donation takes place and for up to 12 weeks post-donation are also eligible for reimbursement. A maximum of €6,000 applies in that regard. Reimbursements under the scheme are exempt from income tax. A donor who is in receipt of a payment from the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection will continue to have that payment paid for a period of up to 12 weeks after the donation. The living donor reimbursement scheme acknowledges the great generosity of living kidney donors. It aims to cover some expenses of donors while retaining the voluntary ethos of donation.

In the case of people who do not work outside the home, the provisions in regard to travel and accommodation, as well as payments from the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection, apply. Further reimbursement is not provided under the scheme. I will revert on the Deputy's specific issues shortly.

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