Seán Ryan
Ceist:77 Mr. Ryan asked the Minister for Health if he will sanction the establishment of a school of nursing at St. Ita's Hospital, Portrane, County Dublin which would specialise in the care of the mentally handicapped.
Written Answers. - Care of the Mentally Handicapped.
The approval of hospitals and institutions for the provision of courses of training for students who wish to become registered in the mental handicap nurses division of the register is a matter for An Bord Altranais in accordance with the Nurses Act, 1985. I understand that the Eastern Health Board are in correspondence with An Bord Altranais in relation to St. Ita's, Portrane in this regard.
I would welcome the establishment of a nurse training school catering for student mental handicap nurses at St. Ita's and I will be happy to sanction the recruitment of such students for the school subject to the school obtaining the appropriate approval of An Board Altranais.