Almost 2,000 Catholics have applied to join the Police Service of Northern Ireland as part of the latest recruitment drive.
The SDLP has said the response confirms its policy of sitting on the Policing Board is right.
Advertisements were placed in a range of outlets last October as part of the second phase of recruitment to the PSNI.
Almost 5,000 people applied, 38 per cent of whom are understood to be Catholic.
The applicants will now take a series of selection tests.
Only those reaching the "merit pool" will qualify to join under the new 50-50 Catholic-Protestant recruitment arrangements.
The SDLP's policing spokesman, Mr Alex Attwood, said his party's policy was clearly correct and Catholic citizens were accepting their responsibilities.
A Sinn Féin Assembly member, Mr Alex Maskey, said fewer Catholics had applied this time than in the last recruitment round.
The first recruits who joined the new service last year will complete their training on April 5th.
The new police badge and uniform will be introduced then.
