Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)

On Committee Stage we discussed the question of cost effectiveness. Deputy Howlin was particularly interested in this. The Department has been examining this issue and has looked at evidence from, among other places, the United Kingdom, where a report by its Comptroller and Auditor General showed that the numbers on curfew had risen from 9,000 in 1999 to over 50,000 in 2004-05. It showed that the Home Office spent £102 million sterling on electronic monitoring in the latter year.

Officials in the Department met some providers of the service and received an outline of technological capability in the range and type of electronic monitoring service delivery available. It will not come into force until an arrangement is made in accordance with sections 13 and 16 of the Bill and, as is normal practice, detailed specifications would have to be worked out and public procurement and tendering processes adhered to before electronic monitoring would be introduced.

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