Colm Burke (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister to the House. This is a short Commencement matter relating to living donors of kidney transplants. The issue of giving assistance to donors was raised at the health committee some months ago. If a person is a living donor he or she will obviously be out of work for a period. My understanding is that it can be anything up to three months. The entire cost of dialysis at the moment is approximately €75,000 per annum per patient in real terms. There are approximately 1,800 people on dialysis. Living donors bring great benefits to the recipient of the kidney, obviously, but also to the State. What those concerned are looking for is small. If people incur a loss of earnings there should be some facility for them. They should be able to receive some remuneration so that they are not out-of-pocket for coming forward on a voluntary basis and giving assistance to a third party. I am raising the issue in this context. I have not heard anything back on the matter although it was raised at the health committee and I have not received any related proposals. I may be out of touch on the matter but I am unaware of any new proposals.