Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 12: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the number of heart and lung transplants conducted here in 2009; if she is satisfied with the number of heart and lung transplants that took place in 2009; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6872/10]

Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick East, Fine Gael)
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Question 30: To ask the Minister for Health and Children her plans to establish an organ transplant authority; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6933/10]

Lucinda Creighton (Dublin South East, Fine Gael)
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Question 75: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if an organ donor opt-out, as opposed to opt-in, scheme is being introduced; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6964/10]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Independent)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 12, 30 and 75 together.

Heart and lung transplantation operations take place in the Mater Hospital Dublin. Eleven heart transplantation procedures were carried out in 2009; this compares with 4 heart transplants in 2008. Five lung transplantation procedures were carried out in 2009; this compares with 4 lung transplants in 2008. In relation to other organ transplants, 172 kidney transplantation procedures were carried out in Beaumont Hospital in 2009. This compares with 146 kidney transplants in 2008. This is the highest level of kidney transplant procedures ever achieved in the kidney transplantation programme. In addition, 64 liver transplantation procedures were carried out in St Vincent's Hospital in 2009, which is the second highest number of transplants in the previous 5 years. The 2009 level compares with 58 liver transplants in 2008.

It is encouraging that heart and lung organ transplant procedures have increased since last year. Nonetheless, I agree there is a need for a national approach to the organ transplant programmes in Ireland. In this context, I have agreed with the Health Service Executive, as part of its 2010 Service Plan, that it will establish an organ donation and transplantation unit within its existing national structures and resources. This unit will provide a national focal point for reporting, monitoring and assessing organ donation and transplantation activities. It is appropriate that these functions be carried out at a national level, on the basis of regular, comprehensive performance data provided by all the transplant centres. This approach will provide a sound basis for evaluating performance and examining other issues related to transplantation.

All the organ transplant programmes depend on the continuing support of the general public through their altruistic decision to donate organs. The different systems of permission for organ donation were the subject of a public consultation in 2009. Ireland's present opt-in system is based on an individual's next-of-kin giving permission for organs to be donated after death for transplantation. The alternative opt-out system assumes that an individual's organs are to be donated after death for transplantation, unless the individual or the next-of-kin explicitly object. Many people have expressed their support for an opt-out system. However, organ recipient and patient organisations as well as medical professionals involved in organ transplantation have explained to me that they do not support the introduction of an opt-out system in Ireland. Organ donation is an extremely sensitive and emotionally difficult situation, especially for relatives of the donor. Irish people have a high tendency to be generous and altruistic at a time of personal loss and, as a result, Ireland has a relatively high level of organ donation, with about 20 donors per million of population, which is well above the European average.

I am reviewing the case for opt-in and opt-out systems of consent, and I will make my decision known as part of the Human Tissue legislation, the Heads of which, I hope to publish as soon as possible. In either case, my objective is to help achieve the greatest possible number of successful organ transplants.