The Irish Blood Tranfusion Service has said it expects a reduction of around 5% in donations due to changes in eligibility criteria for donors.
The new rules mean anyone who has received a blood tranfusion since 1980 will no longer be permitted to give blood.
Also, blood donations from anyone who lived in the United Kingdom for a three year period between 1980 and 1996 will no longer be accepted.
The IBTS has said that as a result of the new scheme it will have to recruit an extra 5,000 donors to keep up with demands from hospitals.
