asked the Minister for Health the provision made in the new county hospital in Tralee, County Kerry for student nurse training facilities.

There will be accommodation in the new general hospital in Tralee in which training facilities for 75 student nurses can be included. It will be a matter for the Southern Health Board primarily to consider the use of this accommodation, in the light of the recommendations of the recent report of the Working Party on General Nursing and having regard to their budgetary allocations. The approval of An Bord Altranais would, of course, be required to the commencement of a new nurse training school.

347.

asked the Minister for Health when he expects that the new county hospital, Tralee, County Kerry will come into operation.

The construction of Tralee General Hospital is expected to be completed at the end of this year. It would be expected that the equipping and commissioning of the building would take a further six months.