An independent audit has found that over 21,400 organs from deceased patients are being held by 36 hospitals and five universities across the State.
Read the audit in full
The report, commissioned by the HSE, reveals that nearly 25% of these organs have been retained since the scandal broke in 2000 which led to a State inquiry.
The 130-page Retained Organs Report was produced by Ms Michaela Willis, a British expert who chaired Britain's National Committee on Organ Retention.
It reveals that 2,274 organs (11%) have been retained by three hospitals since the controversy first became public.
The main hospitals involved are all in Dublin - the Rotunda Hospital (1,083 organs retained), the National Maternity Hospital (673 organs retained) and Beaumont Hospital (138).
The organs have been retained with the consent of families, except in the case of the Rotunda, where weaknesses in the consent policy were discovered.
In relation to the Rotunda, the report says variations were found between the terms of consent given by families and the post mortems carried out and there were delays in implementing family instructions for respectful burial of organs.
It says the Rotunda gave rise to a number of serious concerns including 'misleading' information leaflets about post mortem examinations and the retention of a large number of organs from before and after the turn of the century 'still awaiting examination'.
The audit also found problems with regard to the sensitive disposal of organs at five HSE hospitals - Cavan General, Letterkenny General, Sligo General, the Mid-Western Regional Hospital in Limerick and Connolly Hospital in Dublin.
Overall, it says consent is sought for a hospital post mortem by doctors in all hospitals and practice is much improved since 2000.
The 2006 Madden Report into the scandal recommended that the audit be carried out and that legislation be introduced to ensure no organs are retained without parental consent.
Minister for Health Mary Harney is preparing human tissue legislation to regulate the area.
The organ retention controversy resulted in the establishment of the Dunne Post Mortem Inquiry by the Government in 2000.
It concluded that while there was no evidence of malice on the part of the medical profession, doctors may have been arrogant and insensitive in the practice of retaining organs without consent.
Information
The HSE has set up an information line for families affected or concerned about the organ retention issue.
The number, 1800-670-700, will be operational today from 2.30pm until midnight, and on Friday and Saturday from 10am-6.30pm.
Next week the number will be available from 10am to 6.30pm.
The Rotunda Hospital is also operating an inquiry line at 1800-303-265.
