Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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591. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of persons who applied for or expressed an interest in joining An Garda Síochána in 2022. [49759/22]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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592. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of persons who applied for or expressed an interest in joining An Garda Síochána in 2021. [49761/22]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 591 and 592 together.

As the Deputy will be aware, in accordance with the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána. This includes responsibility for the recruitment and deployment of Garda members throughout the State. As Minister, I have no role in these matters. I can, however, advise the Deputy that the 2022 recruitment campaign for An Garda Síochána saw 11,000 people apply to join the service. A recruitment competition was not run during the period of Covid restrictions, including during 2021. A further campaign is planned for 2023. In this regard, the government has allocated An Garda Síochána an unprecedented budget of €2.14 billion for 2023, which will enable sustained, ongoing recruitment of Garda members and staff.