Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)
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20. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality his plans to roll out electronic tagging; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39606/13]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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The Programme for Government contains a commitment to introduce a series of post-imprisonment restraint orders for violent and sexual offenders to include electronic monitoring and other restrictions, which may be imposed at the time of sentencing.

Arising from a recently conducted review of the Sex Offenders Act, 2001, I expect to seek Government approval for legislative proposals including a number of amendments to the 2001 Act shortly. Legislative proposals being considered include measures for the electronic monitoring of sex offenders in specific circumstances.

Part 10 of the Criminal Justice Act, 2006 provides for the introduction of electronic monitoring and the relevant order commencing the provisions in the context of a restriction of movement condition applying to the granting of temporary release was made in 2010. Currently, the Irish Prison Service has a contract with a service provider for the provision of electronic monitoring. This is used mainly for the monitoring of hospital in-patients who have been granted temporary release from prison and allows for a significant reduction in staffing costs for hospital escorts.

I have no further plans for the introduction of electronic monitoring at this time. However, electronic monitoring is being examined by the working group conducting an all encompassing strategic review of penal policy. I expect the group to report later this year.