asked the Minister for Health if he has considered making hepatitis B vaccination compulsory for all student nurses, in view of the risk of infection.

No vaccination is compulsory in this country. All vaccinations, including hepatitis B vaccination, are offered on a voluntary basis.

Hepatitis B vaccine is available in Ireland and has been offered to health services staff, including student nurses. I will be introducing shortly a national hepatitis B vaccination programme for certain categories of health care staff who have regular contact with blood and are at risk from personal occupational injury. This programme would include student nurses.

Will the Minister clarify what he means by having a national programme in the light of his previous statement that there would not be any compulsion on people in this regard? Does he envisage a PR campaign to alert people to the seriousness of the disease?

A letter was sent from my Department to the CEO of each health board and the programme manager in the general hospital care, directors of special hospital care and community care programmes in each health board area, medical officers of health, voluntary hospitals and the agencies that look after persons suffering from mental handicap. The letter was sent out in August and gave guidelines on the availability of hepatitis B vaccination. As a result of the replies received, it appears that 16,000 staff are considered at risk and the vaccination will be offered to them. However, vaccination will not be compulsory as no vaccination is compulsory at present.

That disposes of questions, priority and ordinary, for today.