asked the Minister for Health why an applicant (name supplied) to the North Western Health Board for a position as trainee psychiatric nurse had his application refused on the ground that he had not submitted his leaving certificate results, when in fact he had done so.

I understand that the board have no record of receiving leaving certificate results of the person concerned. There were about 500 applicants of whom 240 submitted their leaving certificate results. Candidates, who did not possess this certificate or submit evidence indicating that they had acquired the leaving certificate, were not considered.