Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The first stage of implementation is complete and from memory, it is envisaged the rest of it will be completed by September next. In the context of two important issues, I will focus on training days. In 2012, there was only funding for 30,000 training days whereas in 2013, funding for 41,500 training days has been made available. Consequently, the financial focus has gone from the payment of the gratuity to the payment for training days, which is particularly important. In a final comment in the absence of Deputy Ó Cuív on the format for the value-for-money review and the personnel engaged thereon, I note it was the format that always is and always has been used. It has been used by past governments for value-for-money reviews and anyone who has read the report would see there was a clear focus on public interest, on the interaction between the PDF and the RDF and on how the RDF can be made more relevant in today's world. This was the focus in the totality of the report in the context of the different options that were considered and the ultimate recommendations made. It was a very well-written report that sets out clearly the reasoning behind the decisions recommended. I thank Senator Conway for his comments. We moved to implement it as rapidly as possible and I hope that when one looks back on this in a few years' time, the changes will be seen to have been of benefit to the RDF and to its members, as well as being in the public interest.