Last year was a record year for organ transplants in Ireland, the HSE has said.

According to the 2013 Annual Report of the HSE's National Organ Donation and Transplantation Office, 294 transplants were carried out last year - the highest ever number. This included a record 32 lung transplants, 11 heart transplants and 185 kidney transplants.

A total of 246 people received organ transplants in 2013 as a result of the generosity of 86 families of deceased donors who agreed to donate the organs of their loved ones.

Of the 185 kidney transplants that took place last year, a record one in five came from living donors - in other words, 38 people chose to donate one of their kidneys to someone else.

The transplants took place in the Mater Hospital, St Vincent's Hospital and Beaumont Hospital, all in Dublin.

Prof Jim Egan, director of the National Organ Donation and Transplantation Office, described the figures as ‘wonderful'.

He noted that the annual report has, for the first time, published survival outcome data as well as transplant rates and Ireland ‘is comparing favourably with UK and European data' in relation to survival rates.

"However, more organ donations are needed for those who are still awaiting a transplant. I would encourage everyone to have a conversation with their loved ones and let their wishes be known about organ donation. This will make decisions easier for families who are faced with the question of organ donation," he insisted.

Meanwhile, the office said that its aim is to increase transplant rates by a further 7% this year, and to reduce waiting times for transplant recipients.