Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)
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593. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 136 of 10 April 2014, if she will provide the total cost and usage to date in 2014; her plans to expand the use of this service; if the tender has been received for the 50 further devices; the estimated annual cost of this contract; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31492/14]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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The current electronic monitoring contract, which was effective from 1 March 2013, has been extended until July 2014. Expenditure from the start of the contract to the end of May 2014 is €29,000 approximately (excluding VAT) which covers the costs for 10 live units and monitoring. There are currently 2 offenders on conditional release with an electronic tag. As the Deputy is aware, the Irish Prison Service is running a further tender process for the provision of 50 electronic monitoring devices and it is expected that the new contract will be in place shortly.

As my predecessor previously advised the Deputy, the use of electronic monitoring is mainly used by the Irish Prison Service to monitor hospital in-patients who have been granted temporary release from Prison. It thus allows for a significant reduction in staffing costs for hospital escorts. However, in considering any prisoner for temporary release, under the specified conditions relating to the management of the electronic monitoring process, public safety remains the primary operational consideration.

Last December, the Government approved the drafting of a wide-ranging Sexual Offences Bill. The General Scheme of the Bill includes provisions for the electronic monitoring of convicted sex offenders in specific circumstances. This legislation is currently being drafted. Electronic monitoring is also being examined by the group conducting an all encompassing strategic review of penal policy. The Group is expected to report shortly.