asked the Minister for Health if she will take the initiative in rationalising the interview system for trainee nurses in health board training hospitals in order to ensure that all applicants who have the necessary academic qualifications are called for interview and assessed in their own region and that only those considered to have an aptitude for nursing will be required to travel to other regions for further interviews.

The report of the Working Party on General Nursing which was published in October 1980 contains recommendations concerning the recruitment and selection of students for nurse training. Apart from making recommendations concerning the recruitment process the report also recommends the establishment of a central applications bureau under the auspices of An Bord Altranais which would be responsible for the processing of all applications for nurse training. The training schools would be represented on the bureau and the interviewing arrangements would result in students being interviewed at regional level to determine their suitability for nurse training thereby eliminating the need for students to be interviewed separately by each nurse training school processing its own applications.

My Department have invited all interested bodies and staff organisations to let us have their views on these recommendations and when these views have been considered proposals will be put forward to deal with the existing unsatisfactory situation.

I was not aware of the recommendations which were referred to by the Minister in her reply. Does the Minister agree in principle with the idea that there should be a central applications bureau and that the present situation where applicants might have to go to nine or ten different centres is most unsatisfactory when some of those people might not be suitable for nursing?

I agree with the Deputy that this is unsatisfactory and presents considerable hardship for the people concerned.

How soon does the Minister hope to give a decision?

There are some views still outstanding. As I already said we have invited all interested parties to let us have their views and recommendations. some are outstanding, including those of An Bord Altranais. I will endeavour to have the views and recommendations as soon as possible.

Is the Minister aware that a crisis situation has developed in relation to Irish trained nurses as the Scottish and English hospitals are now refusing to give Irish nurses employment? Would the Minister confirm that she will implement the EEC directive on nurse training?

This is a separate question. I have had considerable discussions with An Bord Altranais and the nursing organisations generally on this issue. I hope this can be resolved in the near future.

Would the Minister state if it is proposed to increase the number of student nurses being taken into the service in order to rectify the situation where hospitals are greatly understaffed? Would the Minister also say if it is intended to designate smaller general hospitals, such as Mallow, as training hospitals?

With respect, those are two separate questions.

Has the Minister's Department had any representations about the system of interview at the moment from people saying that the present system is not working satisfactorily and that influence is being used?

I can say quite categorically that I have not received any indication that that is the case.