asked the Minister for Health his Department's policy in regard to the practice of hospitals of charging student nurses for training.

With one exception, fees are not payable by student nurses in nurse training schools operated by health boards. In that case the fee is repayable on satisfactory completion of training. While the payment of fees by student nurses in voluntary hospital training schools is a matter for the authorities of the hospitals concerned, I believe that it is not something which should be encouraged.

That is a very nice statement from the Minister. He will agree that the voluntary hospitals may say it is their private concern and their private domain but 99.9 per cent of their income comes from the State——

The Deputy is making a statement.

Perhaps the Minister would consider sending a letter to the hospitals stating his disapproval of this practice? Then people might be chosen on their merits rather than on their ability to pay.

The Deputy knows there is a working party examining the whole nursing profession structure, admissions, education and so on. Perhaps when we get that report it will be time to deal with this matter. In the meantime, I have indicated an official climate of disapproval of the practice.