COUNCILLOR DERMODY CALLS ON MINISTER FOR FINANCE TO INTRODUCE A TAX CREDIT FOR ANY PERSON WHO DONATES BLOOD

Cllr Anne-Marie Dermody, Fine Gael General Election candidate for Dublin South-West, is calling on the Minister for Finance, Michael Noonan TD, to introduce a tax credit for any person who donates a pint of blood in a calendar year. Cllr Dermody said that “this initiative will encourage more people to donate blood on a regular basis and it will help alleviate the shortage of blood supply”.

“One donation can help the recovery of up to three patients in hospital. It is vitally important that every effort is made to ensure that more people in Ireland donate blood especially considering the current blood donation crisis".

Cllr Dermody stated that “as a donor myself, I believe giving blood is important in helping others but whatever your reason is for giving blood, the need for blood is constant and everyone’s contribution is important and introducing a tax credit is one solution to helping the short supplies of blood”.

"Today we have between 4 and 8 days supply, but blood supplies were at critical levels in November. Four days supply leaves us in a vulnerable position on a normal day, but if we were to suffer from a natural disaster or a high casualty incident, our blood supplies would struggle to cope. That is why we need to do more to increase reserve supplies and that is why I believe that this proposal will assist with this".

Cllr Dermody is encouraging men to roll up their sleeves, to man up and to donate blood in order to help towards the current crisis. ‪”More men are needed to attend clinics to fill gaps in the blood supply”, Councillor Dermody said.

The Irish Blood Transfusion Service (IBTS) is responsible for the collection, processing, testing and distribution of blood and blood products in Ireland. To anyone wondering if they can give blood, they can take an eligibility quiz on the IBTS website or they can e-mail info@ibts.ie or call the IBTS Information Line at 1850 731 137. Further information is available on http://www.giveblood.ie.