The total number of transplants was down from 263 in 2024 to 202 this year, according to Organ Donation Transplant Ireland (ODTI).
The Irish Kidney Association (IKA) said this drop in donations could have a “profound“ impact for people on transplant waiting lists.
Dr Catherine Motherway of the ODTI thanked the donors and their families for what she described as “an incredible gift” that “has a life-transforming impact on the organ recipients”.
The organ donations used for transplants this year came from 68 deceased and 29 living donors.
Kidney transplants were the most common procedure carried out in Ireland (140), followed by liver transplants (33), lung transplants (15), heart transplants (9) and pancreas transplants (5).
In June this year, the Human Tissue Act 2024 Part 2 was brought into law and made organ donation after death an “opt-out” choice rather than one a person had to explicitly declare while alive. This means adults are presumed to consent to their organs being donated unless they register their objection on the National Organ Donation Opt-Out Register.
In the context of an ageing population and the continued growth in chronic kidney disease, the IKA is calling for immediate attention to address the increased demand on services.
The patient representative body has said that the decline has serious implications for those awaiting a transplant. A spokesperson for the IKA said that out of the 700 currently on the waiting list for an organ transplant, 540 (80pc) of these patients required a kidney.
“Successful kidney transplantation offers patients dramatically improved quality of life, better long-term health outcomes, and is significantly more cost-effective than long term dialysis treatment,” the spokesperson said.
“Ireland’s current decline in transplant numbers means more patients are facing years on dialysis while waiting for a life-changing transplant.”
The number of kidney transplants carried out in Ireland (from both living and deceased donations) went from 175 last year, to 140 this year.
Dr Colm Henry, the HSE’s chief clinical officer, said: ‘‘As 2025 comes to a close, I want to express my deepest gratitude to organ donors and their families who, through their extraordinary generosity, gave the precious gift of life this year. Your selfless decision to donate has saved lives.”
Health Minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill said: “This year marked a significant moment for our organ donation and transplantation services with the introduction of a soft opt-out system.
“I thank all donors and their families for their enormous act of kindness to transplant recipients, as well as to society. I encourage everyone to have the conversation with family, your discussion and your decision can make a life-changing difference to others”.
