Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)
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Question 443: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of persons who breached conditions under part 2 of the Sex Offenders Act 2001; the number of recorded incidents, prosecutions and convictions that have taken place in 2009, 2010, 2011 and to date in 2012; his plans to review the enforcement of part 2 of the act; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13941/12]

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)
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Question 450: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of sex offenders who entered the State from abroad in each of the past five years and notified the Garda under the Sex Offenders Act 2001 within the specified seven days; the number who breached this notification procedure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13981/12]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 473: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the extent to which the sex offender register is compiled or updated and controlled by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14286/12]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 443, 450 and 473 together.

The Sex Offenders Act 2001 contains a comprehensive series of provisions aimed at protecting children and other persons. Part 2 of the Act makes persons convicted of a range of sexual offences subject to notification requirements. 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, as of 8 March 2012, there are 1,200 persons currently subject to the requirements of Part 2 of the Act. I am confident that the appropriate level of monitoring is carried out by An Garda Síochána and all breaches of the requirements which come to notice are pursued.

The Garda Síochána Act 2005 makes provision for the compilation and publication of crime statistics by the Central Statistics Office, as the national statistical agency, and the CSO has established a dedicated unit for this purpose.

I have requested the CSO to provide relevant statistics directly to the Deputy.

Insofar as the information requested regarding the number of notifications in relation to sex offenders entering the state from abroad is concerned, I am informed that this is not readily available and would require a disproportionate amount of Garda time and resources to collate. However, such persons are subject to the requirements of Part II, Sex Offenders Act, 2001.

All offenders subject to the notification requirements are monitored by the Sex Offender Management and Intelligence Unit (SOMIU) at the Garda National Bureau of Criminal Investigation. The Unit is supported by Garda Inspectors nominated in each Garda Division throughout the State. I am informed that the nominated Inspector in each Division has access to all necessary resources within his/her division to assist him/her in carrying out his/her duties. Where An Garda Síochána becomes aware that an offender subject to the notification requirements has breached those requirements, appropriate action is taken.

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)
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Question 444: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the current notification period under the Sex Offenders Act 2001 for a person entering the State; the corresponding period for a person resident in the State; the number of recorded incidents, prosecutions and convictions for persons under each category who have failed to comply with this notification that have taken place from 2009 to date in 2012; the plans to review the current notification period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13942/12]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Under the Sex Offenders Act 2001, a convicted sex offender is required to notify his name and home address to An Garda Síochána within 7 days of becoming subject to the notification requirement. This notification period applies whether the person is resident in the State or was convicted of a relevant offence in another jurisdiction and subsequently enters this State.

My Department has been conducting a wide-ranging examination of the law on sexual offences and a review of the Sex Offenders Act 2001 formed an integral part of that examination. Arising from the review, I expect to bring forward legislative proposals, including amendments to the notification requirements in the 2001 Act, in the coming months.

With respect to the statistical information the deputy has requested, the Garda Síochána Act 2005 makes provision for the compilation and publication of crime statistics by the Central Statistics Office, as the national statistical agency, and the CSO has established a dedicated unit for this purpose. I have requested the CSO to provide statistics directly to the Deputy.