Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)

On the intakes this year, there will be four. There was one in June, there will be another in August and there will be another before the end of the year. There will be approximately four intakes this year. Some years, there can be five but it is dependent upon each year and how the schedule operates.

On the proposal to increase the training allowance, that is something I will certainly look at. It is something we have indicated in the programme of Government. At present, it is €354 per week during training.

I am confident about the immediate future. It is significant that 6,700 people expressed interest during the recruitment campaign. It is also noteworthy that, of that 6,700 who expressed interest in February, some of them were already starting in the Garda College. Certainly, many of them will be starting in the next intake. Historically, there was a delay turning expressions of interest into trainees on the ground. That is changing and I am pleased to see it is speeding up.

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