44 Mr. G. O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Defence the reason it is necessary for apprentices in Baldonnel, County Dublin and in the Apprentice School, Naas, County Kildare, to be forced to purchase tool boxes and tools at exorbitant interest charges, and against their will and Defence Force regulations.

It is a longstanding practice in the Permanent Defence Force to require personnel about to undergo apprentice training, to provide appropriate tool kits at their own expense. This practice is regarded as an importent factor in motivating apprentices to take pride in the ownership and maintenance of the tools of their trade.

Apprentices about to commence training with the Permanent Defence Force are made aware of that requirement. Some opt to fund the purchase by way of personal loans secured from commercial banks, subject to the usual terms of repayment.

The foregoing arrangement have been raised in discussions between my Department and the Permanent Defence Force Other Ranks Representative Association and consideration of the matter is ongoing.