Pa Daly (Kerry, Sinn Fein)
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375. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 692 of 19 October 2021, the number of projected recruits, actual recruits, newly attested trainees and retirements in An Garda Síochána in each of the years 2019 to 2021. [5705/22]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended) for the recruitment and training of Garda members and staff. The Commissioner is also responsible for determining the deployment of An Garda Síochána throughout the State under the Act and, as Minister, I play no role in these independent functions.

The budget provided by Government to the Garda Commissioner continues to increase to unprecedented levels. Budget 2022 provides in excess of an unprecedented €2 billion in funding to An Garda Síochána. This additional funding will provide for the recruitment of up to an additional 800 Gardaí and 400 Garda Staff in 2022.

Since 2016 the budget for An Garda Síochána has increased by approximately €500m, or 33%. This has enabled 1,400 extra Gardaí to be deployed, as well as continued investment in modern equipment. In addition, it has freed up over 800 Gardaí for front line policing work through the recruitment of Garda Staff.

The below table, furnished to me by the Garda authorities, details the number of projected recruits, actual recruits, newly attested trainees and retirements for 2019 and 2020. I have been advised that final figures for 2021 are not yet available.

* Garda College, Templemore, closed in response to public health measures for periods of 2020 which curtailed recruitment.