Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein)
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167. To ask the Minister for Health if the assistance scheme for living organ donors can be expanded to include relief, compensation and assistance to parents not working outside the home; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41069/17]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The Policy for the Reimbursement of Expenses of Living Donors provides for the reimbursement of accommodation and travel expenses incurred by living kidney donors up to a maximum of €6,000. In addition, the scheme reimburses loss of earnings incurred by salaried/waged donors and self-employed donors for up to 12 weeks after the donation, up to a maximum of €10,000.

The policy was introduced in 2014 and a review of the provisions of the policy was undertaken last year. The scheme acknowledges the great generosity of living kidney donors. However, it is not feasible to cover all expenses of donors under the scheme, which is funded from the overall health budget. There are no plans to further alter the scheme.