Catherine Callaghan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Is it attractive for somebody in his or her 30s who might have a mortgage and children to join any cadetship if the pay is less than what it is for a three-star private, even though he or she will have done six months of military training? Might some thought be put into addressing that?

My final point, the subject of which was referred to by Senator Craughwell, is on the service commitment for air traffic controllers. Will it be the same as that for pilots? My understanding is that one must serve 12 years to meet the service commitment. How many of our current air traffic controllers have already served 12 years? If it takes four years for the cadets who will come back from Spain to qualify, and if the commitment schemes are the same, what prevents one from driving down the road after four years, the State having paid for one’s training, to work in Weston rather than staying in Baldonnel?