Tom Fleming (Kerry South, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

399. To ask the Minister for Health his views on a project (details supplied) regarding blood donation; if he will support this worthy project of awareness of blood donation and its aim to decrease the age of consent to donate blood from 18 to 17 years of age; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5580/15]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I would like to offer my support and encouragement to the Transition Year students in the Sacred Heart Secondary School Tullamore with their Young Social Innovators project. I commend them for their efforts to raise awareness on the importance of blood donation.

The Irish Blood Transfusion Service (IBTS) is responsible for providing a safe and reliable blood service to the Irish health system. Blood, and the products derived from it, are an integral facet of healthcare delivery. A major objective of the organisation is to ensure that it always has the necessary programmes and procedures in place to protect both the donors of blood and recipients of blood and blood products.

The IBTS is continually seeking ways to recruit donors and to raise awareness of the importance of blood donation. It has a schools information pack with leaflets, videos and CD content which it distributes to secondary schools to promote blood donation. The IBTS is currently reviewing this material with several parties, including input from Transition Year students. It is envisaged that this material will form part of a proposal to the Department of Education and Skills to include blood donation as part of the secondary school SPHE curriculum. The IBTS also promotes awareness of blood donation through their presence at youth activities, such as the GAA and other sports clubs.

The IBTS has no plans to reduce the age of consent for blood donations to 17 years of age. They have advised that they are not in a position to reduce the age of consent due to a higher rate of adverse reactions, such as fainting, in younger donors.