Cork blood centre to learn of fate next month

THE Irish Blood Transfusion Service (IBTS) may learn in September whether a proposed centre in Cork will get the go-ahead — five years after the plans were submitted to the Government.

Health Minister Mary Harney has said she intends bringing a memorandum to cabinet on the issue when government meetings resume next month.

But Fine Gael TD Bernard Allen, who has repeatedly criticised government delays on the issue, expressed scepticism that an announcement would be made. He said the Government had been promising a centre for years but consistently failed to deliver.