Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Independent)
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169. To ask the Minister for Health if he will report on the treatment programme for haemochromatosis; the financial supports available to persons who have this condition and therefore must have regular venesections; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43222/15]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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The IBTS currently provides a haemochromatosis service at three centres, two in Dublin and one in Cork. The service is provided free of charge and, where patients meet all the normal blood donation criteria, they can become blood donors.

Where a regular donor (someone who has donated within the previous two years) is diagnosed with haemochromatosis, they can continue to donate and have their venesections performed by the IBTS in their own locality up to four times per year.

The HSE and the IBTS are currently working in partnership to develop the most appropriate model of care for the extension of a haemochromatosis service to the rest of the country.