Despite the fact 2006 was a record year for organ transplant operations in the State, there are still over 600 people awaiting the life-saving surgery, the Irish Donor Network said today.
St Vincent's hospital doubled its liver transplant figures of 32 in 2003 to 65 in 2006, while the Mater hospital performed nine lung transplants, including the first double lung transplant.
There were also six Irish patients who underwent lung transplant operations in the UK last year, five of whom were cystic fibrosis patients.
Fourteen heart transplants operations took place in 2006, an increase of three on 2005 figures.
Mark Murphy, the chairman of the Irish Donor Network, said at the launch of Organ Donor Awareness Week that the record level of transplant surgery was achieved by massive growth in liver transplantation and the development of the lung transplant programme.
He pointed out, however, that the number of operations performed is "entirely dependent on the goodwill of the public and their decision to carry an organ donor card."
Mr Murphy, also chief executive of the Irish Kidney Association, reported that "in 2006, due to the kind generosity of 91 deceased donors and their families, a total of 234 organ transplants were achieved and there were an additional four kidney transplants from living donors."
Kidney transplant figures for 2006 were slightly above the annual average with 142 deceased donor kidney transplants and four living donor kidney transplants and that five of the kidney transplants included simultaneous transplantation of a pancreas as well.
He cautioned that as of December, 2006 there were 1482 adults receiving dialysis treatment, which represents a 10 per cent increase on the previous year when the figure was 1350.
The annual Organ Donor Awareness Week campaign is organised by the Irish Kidney Association, the national organisation which promotes and distributes the organ donor card in Ireland on behalf of all patient groups with an interest in organ donation who form the Irish Donor Network.
The 2007 annual Organ Donor Awareness Week will run from Saturday, March 31st.