Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 593: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of sex offenders who entered the State from abroad in each of the past five years and notified the gardaí under the Sex Offenders Act 2001, within the specified seven days; the number who breached this notification procedure; the action that was taken when the procedure was breached; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30402/09]

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 600: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of sex offenders there are currently registered with the gardaí. [30409/09]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to answer Questions Nos. 593 and 600 together.

The Sex Offenders Act 2001 contains a comprehensive series of provisions aimed at protecting children and other persons. The Act makes persons convicted of a range of sexual offences subject to notification requirements under Part 2 of the Act. The provisions of the Act also extend to any offenders convicted abroad of the same range of sexual offences who enter the State.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that the attached table shows the number of such convicted sex offenders who have entered the State each year since 2004. Of the seven persons who failed to comply with the requirements under Part 2 of the Act, six are believed to have left the State, and one has been convicted of failing to comply with the reporting requirements. I am further informed that 1,093 persons were subject to the notification requirements of Part 2 of the Sex Offenders Act 2001, as of 8 September, 2009.

An Garda Síochána has a system in place for the monitoring of persons subject to these requirements. Its Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Investigation Unit monitors and manages the notification provisions, and maintains all information relating to persons who have obligations under the Act. There is a nominated Garda Inspector in each Garda Division who has responsibility for the monitoring in their Division of persons subject to the requirements of the Act.

* Statistics provided are provisional operational and liable to change.