Martin Browne (Tipperary, Sinn Fein)
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698. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if there will be a recruitment campaign for an Garda Síochána before the end of 2021. [50743/21]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I am happy to inform the Deputy that Budget 2022 reflects the commitment of the Government to ensuring our communities are safe and that An Garda Síochána has the resources to be an effective and trusted policing service.

The budget provided by Government to the Garda Commissioner continues to increase to unprecedented levels, with an allocation of €1.952 billion for 2021. Budget 2022 provides over €2 billion in funding.

As the Deputy may be aware, COVID-19 restrictions on the Garda Training College in Templemore constrained recruitment and training for periods over the last 18 months. However, I am glad to confirm that 450 Gardaí will be recruited this year and the funding provided for next year fully supports the sustained recruitment of Garda members and staff.

In particular, the funding announced last week includes provision for the recruitment of 800 new Garda recruits and 400 Garda staff in 2022 - an additional 1,200 personnel. This increase in the number of Garda members and staff will deliver significant growth in operational policing hours nationwide and improved services to the public generally. Redeployment of Gardaí from administrative and support roles will also continue next year, thus allowing highly trained Gardaí to focus on frontline policing duties. The organisation's capacity will be further strengthened by the recruitment of additional Garda staff, including to specialist roles to support the investigation of crime and enhance the management of the organisation.

An Garda Síochána have advised that a recruitment plan for 2022 is currently being developed to manage the recruitment processes for Garda Members and Garda Staff roles. I understand there are a number of successful candidates who will be called from the last Garda recruit competition but a new Garda Trainee competition is also being planned which will be launched before the end of this year or early next year.

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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699. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if funding has been provided for the provision of purchasing additional high-powered unmarked vehicles for the roads policing unit. [50877/21]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will be aware, under Section 26 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the general administration and management of Garda business, including the allocation of funds for specific purposes within the organisation. As Minister, I have no role in this independent function.

However, I am informed by the Garda authorities that no high-powered unmarked vehicles have been allocated to the Roads Policing Unit in 2021. 34 marked all-wheel drive vehicles have been allocated to the Roads Policing Unit to date in 2021, with one further allocation planned for Q4 2021.

I am further informed that the purchase and allocation of vehicles by An Garda Síochána is made on the basis of identified operational demands and availability of resources, and is monitored and reviewed on a continual basis. The number and types of vehicles to be purchased in 2022 to meet operational demands is currently under review. Budget 2022 has allocated €12m for investment in the Garda fleet, which will mean more high visibility policing in our towns and cities.