The Health Service Executive (HSE) has delayed funding for a Living Kidney Transplant Programme and the appointment of donor co-ordinator staff at intensive care units, the Irish Kidney Association (IKA) has claimed.
Some €8 million in additional money for kidney programmes was promised in the November budget, with €2 million of this due to fund the programme aimed at facilitating living persons - usually relatives of potential recipients - who wish to donate organs.
Speaking at the launch of Donor Awareness Week, which runs from April 1st to April 8th, IKA Chief Executive Mark Murphy said the delay in funding had come at a time when demand for organ transplants continued to grow and the number of organs available from cadaver donors remained static.
But Tánaiste and Minister for Health Mary Harney said that she had been unaware of any difficulty in making the resources immediately available to hospitals.
"The issue now is to make sure that those resources are used as quickly as possible for those who are waiting for a much needed kidney," she said.
There are currently over 550 people Ireland awaiting life saving organ transplants including heart, lung, liver, kidney and pancreas. In 2005, over 200 lives were extended and saved by organ transplantation.
Mrs Harney said that, despite the long waiting list, Ireland had very high level of donations in comparison to other countries.
"Clearly we've a long waiting list," she added. "And the aim is now to try and provide, if possible, a transplant for everyone that's suitable for transplantion."