Almost 1,000 people have given blood at the new blood donation clinic in Dublin city centre since it began operating last week.
The President, Mrs McAleese, officially opened the Irish Blood Transfusion Service's facility above the Manchester United shop in D'Olier Street yesterday and said the central location would make it easier to give blood. "I urge existing donors to avail of this impressive new facility and continue to give blood in the coming years with the same unselfishness they have displayed in the past. I also urge them to encourage friends and families to join them," Mrs McAleese said.
Every year 2 per cent of the population needed a blood transfusion. "Almost 3,000 units of blood are donated each week, and it is crucial that this level of donation is maintained and increased."
The clinic is open Monday to Thursday from 9.30 a.m. to 8 p.m. and offers one-hour free parking to donors who use the multi-storey car-park in Fleet Street.
Mr Andrew Kelly, the deputy chief executive officer of the IBTS, said it was especially important to have a reserve of blood as the Christmas holidays approached.
Details of blood donor clinics around the State are available on the board's website www.ibts.ie