I am proud that in the past two years, for the first time in a long time, five cadets have been recruited so that there will be a continuation of young officers coming into the equitation school. This year four cadets are being recruited to the equitation school. A new headquarters has been constructed and a state of the art transporter has been purchased. We are in negotiations at present for money for horses. Coming from Kildare, Deputy Power will be aware it is not the easiest thing in the world to find international standard showjumpers, bearing in mind that the equitation school deals in Irish horses. Because of the competitive market, huge prices are paid for horses. The purpose of the equitation school is to promote the Irish horse abroad, and therefore we are confined to getting good young international standard Irish horses.
If the Deputy has information that requests are outstanding I would be glad to hear from him. As in any walk of life, regardless of how much we have we always want a little more, but it is a question of ensuring a solid foundation for the future of the equitation school.