Ms Deirdre Shanley:

Yes, over a period. It would be the case that some people would go to a certain level one year and then, if they progress, they would attend at another level the next year. Sometimes it can be the same people or it can be new people. The Department does not have an unlimited number of places. The Department's civil servants are only a number among many civil servants who attend these courses. They only reflect the numbers within our Department. There are many more attending courses throughout the Civil Service.