Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The €92 million is in addition to the sum already mentioned. It is not included. With regard to the intake to Templemore, I repeat that next year it is anticipated there will be 800 recruits. I look forward to attending Templemore tomorrow for the last of this year's four graduation ceremonies that will see by the end of the year a further 800 recruits for 2018. There will be 800 for 2019. Allowing for retirements in the order of 300, we have a net intake of approximately 500.

With regard to the €3 million, I would have preferred to spend it on building but it was contingent on projects being advanced by the Office of Public Works. Diverting this money to IT gives more scope for the building budget next year. It will see a release of funds. It is important that we continue to advance the ICT programme in the Garda Síochána. I am pleased, in the context of the budget, to see a facility to allow increased scope for spending on ICT on the part of the Garda Síochána next year. This was an issue that was the subject matter of the address to the committee by the Garda Commissioner.