Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 116: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the action taken to date to implement the recommendation made in November 2006 by the Report of the Joint Committee on Child Protection that a system for computerised storage and dissemination of information received in accordance with the Sex Offenders Act 2001 be developed and established; and the Government's timeframe for implementing this recommendation. [25967/07]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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The Garda Síochána has in place a system for the monitoring of persons subject to the requirements of the Sex Offenders Act, 2001. The Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Unit monitor and manage the notification provisions. The information on persons who are subject to the requirements of the Sex Offenders Act, 2001 is maintained at a central location. Only specified nominated Garda personnel have access to this information. I am advised by the Garda authorities that they are currently assessing requirement regarding access to this information by other units within the Force.

There are nominated Garda Inspectors in each Garda Division who are notified by the Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Unit when a sex offender, who is subject to the requirements of the Act, is resident in their Division. These inspectors are responsible for the monitoring of such offenders.

Records relating to persons subject to the provisions of the Sex Offenders Act, 2001 are recorded on a database kept by the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation. This system has previously been upgraded. The Garda authorities are currently carrying out work to integrate the system for recording persons subject to the requirements of the Act into the PULSE system. This work is scheduled for completion in 2008.