Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Where there is not a separate process and we are not treating different languages differently, it is very hard to tell what the number will be. The 20% target is for 2030. We hope to have another round as soon as possible after this round and we will open up the application process again in the coming years. If we spread that figure of 466 - and I hope we will have a similar number if not an even higher one the next time - across the next number of competitions, it is to be hoped that, by 2030, we will meet that overall figure. That is not to say we cannot reach it in this round. It is absolutely possible. We have funding for 800 recruits this year alone but it is very difficult to give the Senator a firm commitment that we will reach 20% immediately. The target is to reach it by 2030.