Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 91: 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. [10497/10]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Question 144: 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. [10867/10]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Independent)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 91 and 144 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. I am encouraged that the total number of heart and lung transplantation procedures doubled in 2009 to 16 transplants compared to 8 procedures in the previous year.

This performance should also be viewed in the context of the very strong overall performance of organ transplantation and donation in 2009. 172 kidney transplants were carried out in Beaumont Hospital in 2009, compared with 146 transplants in 2008. The 2009 figure is the highest level of kidney transplants ever achieved in the transplant programme. Kidney transplants have increased by 33% between 2005 and 2009. Ireland's deceased donation rate in 2009 is estimated to be about 20 deceased donors per million population, which should place Ireland in the top third of organ donation performance within Europe.