An independent panel brought in to assess a decision by the IBTS to base all its testing facilities in Dublin has recommended using two centres, one in the capital and the other in Cork.
The panel concluded that despite "significant management and organisational weaknesses" within the blood bank, there was no imminent danger to the public from its blood products.
The three international transfusion experts, from the US, Scotland and Sweden, began their investigation last May. They were brought in following concerns from the Southern Health Board (SHB) and the public in Munster at plans hatched in 1999 to consolidate blood testing in a single centre in Dublin.
The main recommendations of their report are increased co-operation between Dublin and Cork, the urgent building and development of a new Cork testing facility, the introduction of an integrated computer system and investment in research and development facilities.
It also suggested the ITBS employ of a number of transfusion specialists, using financial assistance from the Department of Health, if possible.
Professor Thomas Zuck, of the University of Cincinnati, said the panel was recommending the use of two training centres so that one could act as back-up in the event of any problems experienced by the other. The two centres should therefore have equal capacity, over and above what was necessary for its own purposes. This is despite the fact that Dublin currently collects twice as much donated blood as Cork.
The Chairman of the SHB, Mr Batt O'Keeffe, said he welcomed the report and was satisfied with the recommendations. He said the SHB had objected to the plans because of "serious reservations" about the safety of blood products and the service to customers.
Mr O'Keeffe, Fianna Fáil TD for Cork South-central, called for immediate action to develop a centre in Cork and said he would ask the Minister for Health, Mr Martin, to provide the necessary funding.
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