Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Fine Gael)
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Question 79: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she will deal with a matter (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24212/10]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Independent)
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Many countries in the European Union operate organ donor registers. However, the rates of deceased organ donation vary widely between Member States from 1.1 to 34.4 deceased organ donors per million of population. Therefore, it is difficult to demonstrate the effectiveness of a donor register as a means to increasing organ donation.

Ireland consistently performs above the average EU rate of organ donation. In 2008, Ireland's annual rate was 18.4 organ donors per million of population, compared to the EU rate of 18.2. In 2009, Ireland significantly increased its level of organ donation to 20 organ donors per million of population, which is expected to again place it above the average EU rate.

Notwithstanding this performance, options to further improve organ donation should be open to consideration. With this in mind, I 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.