438. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Health his plans to extend nationwide the programme set up with the Irish Blood Transfusion Service that allows persons in Cork and Dublin to have up to four free venesections a year, given that not all sufferers can travel to Cork or Dublin for treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42739/15]

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.