Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Solidarity)
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535. To ask the Minister for Health the steps he will take to increase the level of organ donation here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16348/17]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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My Department has provided increased funding to HSE Organ Donation Transplantation Ireland (ODTI) to support initiatives aimed at increasing the levels of organ donation and transplantation. Additional staff have been recruited to foster a strong culture of organ donation, to optimise conversion rates and to ultimately increase the number of transplants that are carried out. These staff include Organ Procurement Coordinators, Organ Donation Nurse Managers and Intensive Care Consultants.

The emphasis is on endeavouring to ensure that we avail of all opportunities for organ donation. The Living Kidney Donor Programme reached a milestone of 50 living donor transplants for the first time last year. The number of deceased donations will always fluctuate somewhat depending on the opportunities that arise.

Work on scoping the parameters of legislation for a Human Tissue Bill, is currently being undertaken in my Department. It is envisaged that this Bill will provide for an opt-out system of consent for organ donation. Under this proposed system, consent will be deemed unless the person has, while alive, registered his/her wish not to become an organ donor after death. However, it is proposed that, even though consent is deemed, the next of kin will in practice always be consulted prior to removing any organ (“soft” opt-out system). The aim is to make organ donation the norm in situations where the opportunity arises.

Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Solidarity)
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536. To ask the Minister for Health his views on opt-out basis as opposed to opt-in basis for organ donation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16349/17]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Work on scoping the parameters of legislation for a Human Tissue Bill, is currently being undertaken in my Department. It is envisaged that this Bill will provide for an opt-out system of consent for organ donation. Under this proposed system, consent will be deemed unless the person has, while alive, registered his/her wish not to become an organ donor after death. However, it is proposed that, even though consent is deemed, the next of kin will in practice always be consulted prior to removing any organ (“soft” opt-out system). The aim is to make organ donation the norm in situations where the opportunity arises.